The Edifier R1 is an affordable solution for those looking for a solid set of open ear earbuds.
I’ve had a set of Edifier earbuds, specifically the Neobuds Pro, before and found them to be a rather good pair of earphones for everyday use. They’re a little pricier than I’d like perhaps, but still an excellent option. So, how does the Edifier R1 come into play?
So why would I need another pair? Well, I quite like walking and doing running events, and occasionally traffic can be an issue which meaning that noise cancelling earphones might not be ideal — even when they have options to allow in ambient sound. The Edifier R1 provides an open ear option, meaning the earbud doesn’t actually enter the ear canal, rather clips onto your ear and directs sound down the canal. This means that you can still hear surrounding noises if you need to and also reduces the chance of hearing damage.
Now, I wasn’t sure about this. I assumed that these would be uncomfortable, sound bad, and fall off all the time, but I was wrong on most counts. Whilst the Edifier R1 feels a little odd at first, it doesn’t take long for you to stop noticing that you have them on, and it was only when I went to adjust them that I realised where they were positioned. Equally, they’re surprisingly sturdy, even whilst running. I’ve done several long distance runs using them and haven’t had them slip off or even come loose. They’ve been surprisingly effective for my needs.
Sound quality does take a hit though due to them essentially sitting in your ear. External noise will impact you if you’re trying to listen to intricate music or if you’re trying to concentrate on an audiobook or podcast. Music in particular can sound a bit ‘muddy’, so if you’re quite the aficionado, these are likely not for you. With that said, these sort of earphones aren’t really aimed at that crowd and are very much intended for listening whilst having situational awareness. There are plenty of other in-ear earbuds if you’re looking for high sound quality.
The earbuds can be enhanced, somewhat, by using the Edifier app. You can change what the current sound settings are, with options like increasing bass or prioritising voices. There’s also the option to change what double or triple tapping each earbud does which is a nice inclusion. The app is functional enough, and it’s nice to have a little hub to change these options as well as links to the user manuals if you need them.
The presentation is nice, with a sleek charging case that promises 7 hours worth of listening time with the earbuds, and an additional 14 hours if you then charge them in the case. The case feels a little on the big side compared to previous Edifier earbuds I’ve had, but that feels like a minor complaint. I like that these are water resistant too, at IP56, meaning they’re safe with jets of water. I’ve tried them out in the shower and they’ve managed just fine, although from past experience I would warn users to keep an eye on the magnetic connectors as these can suffer with too much water exposure.
Considering these are priced at under £50 on Amazon at the moment means they’re at a really good pricepoint, so if you’re after an affordable open-ear option, these are a really good choice.
The Edifier R1 is available to purchase on Amazon.
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