Shure has been a mainstay in recording studios and on live performance levels for 95 years. The firm’s newest contribution to its wealthy legacy is the Aonic 50 lively noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones. These $399 headphones promise audiophile high quality, distinctive consolation, superior ANC efficiency, and among the deepest Bluetooth codec help you’ll discover wherever.
Build high quality
The Aonic 50 are lovely headphones. Imitation leather-based dominates the scarf and ear cups, whereas soft-brushed aluminum arms join the 2. The click-adjustable arms open and shut with ease; but as soon as locked in place, they’ll keep precisely the place you positioned them. You’ll usually face a trade-off with easy-to-adjust headbands; not right here, I discovered the stress on my head to be close to goldilocks excellent.
This evaluate is a part of TechHive’s protection of the best headphones, the place you’ll discover opinions of competing merchandise, plus a purchaser’s information to the options it is best to think about when procuring.
The imitation leather-based wrapped across the Aonic 50 is gentle and splendid. The headband is abundantly padded and didn’t produce any extra stress on the highest of my head—even after prolonged put on. The ear cups likewise are gentle and comfy.
The solely downside I discovered was breathability. These headphones made me scorching and sweaty after prolonged listening periods. The impact will likely be exacerbated in the event you use the Aonic 50 in scorching or humid environments, although your physique would possibly react in another way.
Shure makes use of brushed aluminum in locations another producers deploy plastic.
The ear cups fold flat for journey and storage, however they don’t collapse additional like among the competitors. The included carrying case is spacious however utterly impractical for journey—it’s downright large.
Battery life is rated to final for a good 20 hours. With a few of immediately’s wi-fi headphones pushing 24 to 30 hours plus, that is on the lower-end of the spectrum. That stated, in actual world utilization, you’ll be able to simply go two to a few days of prolonged listening or Zoom convention calls with out ever needing to cost the headphones. Moreover, re-charging the headphones is quick. Just 5 minutes of plug time will simply get you out of the low-battery warning vary.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe ear cups on the Aonic 50 are gentle and comfy, however that didn’t cease me from getting scorching and sweaty after lengthy listening periods.
Ergonomics
The Aonic 50’s ergonomics are simple. Tactile navigation controls and a USB-C charging port are positioned on the again of the right-hand ear cup. A 3-way slider permits you to toggle between Environment Mode (extra on that under), ANC off, and ANC on. The toggle change on my evaluate pair took acutely aware fiddling to get it to take a seat proper within the center place (ANC off). Each time I moved the change, it slid manner too simply to an undesired setting, and it actually wants a slight design adjustment to make it worry-free.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGAll the controls are positioned on the right-hand ear cup of the Shure Aonic 50.
I do applaud Shure for offering a tactile bump on the Play/Pause button. I may instantantly orient my fingers and know whether or not I used to be urgent volume-up, play/pause, or volume-down. Pressing the play/pause button twice advances to the following track, whereas urgent it 3 times shortly will go to the earlier track.
Deep Bluetooth codec help
The Aonic 50 are versatile to suit your evolving life-style. These cans will function in three totally different modes: analog wired (utilizing the included 3.5mm analog cable), wi-fi, and wired digital by way of USB-C.
Bluetooth 5.0 is customary, and also you’ll get about 30 toes of wi-fi efficiency (barring any obstacles). The Aonic 50’s wi-fi efficiency is a marvel, bolstered by its spectacular codec help, together with the complete Qualcomm aptX codec suite: aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Low Latency. AptX HD will stream high-resolution audio as much as 24-bit decision and 48kHz sampling fee. AptX Low Latency is ideal for avid gamers with demanding synchronization between audio and video.
You can even make the most of Sony’s wonderful LDAC codec, which helps high-res audio as much as 24-bit decision and a 96kHz sampling fee, with information charges as much as 990Kbps. Last however not least, there’s help for Apple’s AAC and customary Bluetooth SBC.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGAstell&Kern’s Kann high-res digital audio participant was one of many supply units I used throughout my evaluate.
If you discover wi-fi streaming anathema to your audiophile aesthetic, plug a USB-C cable into the Aonic 50 and transport your favourite tunes within the digital area. I used each the included cable and a six-foot Monoprice Monolith USB-C cable with out problem. Best of all? You can hearken to the headphones when you’re charging their battery.
Shure doesn’t specify the DAC that’s onboard or the audio resolutions and sampling charges which might be supported, however once I linked these cans to my Mac, the pc’s Audio MIDI Setup reported them as supporting audio as much as 32-bit decision with sampling charges as much as 384kHz.
Speaking of which, Mac customers ought to take be aware: If you need to play high-res music via the Aonic 50, know that your Mac will at all times use a set bit depth and sampling fee within the Audio MIDI Setup app (positioned in Utilities folder). That fastened fee will usually be CD-quality 16-bit 44.1kHz.
When I used the macOS Qobuz app, for instance, any high-res file I performed defaulted to 16-bit/44kHz, and I needed to manually change the output every time within the Audio MIDI Setup app. I subsequently counsel utilizing a music app that may routinely change the output to match the music supply, which is one thing iTunes received’t do. So, iTunes customers ought to think about buying a program like Bitperfect that may routinely change your Mac’s bit depth and sampling fee.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe imitation leather-based wrapped across the Shure Aonic 50 certain seems like the true factor.
ShurePlus Play cell app
Shure supplies iOS and Android customers with the ShurePlus Play app, which is fundamental however sensible. The free app reveals you the present battery degree and allows you to set each ANC depth (regular or max) and Environment Mode depth (on a 10-point scale). You must be in every respective mode to vary their settings.
The app can even entry your music library, which in my case was the iPhone’s Music app. I couldn’t hook up with different music service apps, resembling Tidal or Qobuz. With the music app linked, I had the choice of making use of 5 pre-defined EQ settings or creating my very own. Should you resolve to create your personal EQ preset, you’ll be able to set the achieve and bandwidth for 4 frequency factors: Low shelf, excessive shelf, and two parametric EQ factors. The app doesn’t offer you the flexibility to customise the ANC algorithm for airplane, practice, subway, or altitude.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe ear cups on the Shure Aonic 50 fold flat, however that’s as small as these cans get; they don’t make nice journey companions.
Environment Mode is a winner
The Aonic 50 comes with a set of instruments and tech for the street warrior. Chief amongst these is a function known as “Environment Mode” that permits you to hear the surface world with out taking your headphones off. Shure’s Environment Mode is solely very good and ranks up there with one of the best I’ve skilled. It’s utterly pure in its default setting.
I detected not one of the tinny artifacts or different disturbing distortions that plagued competing merchandise that got here earlier; the truth is, the one anomaly that provides Environment mode away is a heightened brightness to your environment. I may even press the play/pause button to summon Siri for hands-free instructions. Best of all, you’ll be able to play music with Environment mode enabled, The music I listened to retained its constancy and sounded downright fabulous—no less than till I used to the ShurePlus Play app to spice up Environment Mode to its max setting. Doing that launched a big quantity of hiss. Bottom line: Shure’s Environment Mode is spectacular.
Mediocre noise-cancellation efficiency
When it involves one of the best lively noise-cancelling headphones available on the market immediately, there’s Sony, Bose—and everybody else. The Shure Aonic 50 do nothing to vary that image. I in contrast them to Bose’s QC35 and Bowers & Wilkins’ PX noise-cancelling headphones by enjoying recorded cabin noise at 91dB (as measured by a sound stress degree meter C-weighted and set to gradual). Typical airplane cabin noise ranges from 90- to 96dB.
I stood two toes underneath a pair of ceiling audio system and cycled via the three headphones a number of instances. Alas, in every context, I discovered the Aonic 50’s lively noise cancelling to be good however not nice. While the Aonic 50 may take the sting off, its ANC efficiency constantly got here in behind the Bose and B&W.
The similar efficiency was true of fan and HVAC noise. I examined the Shure Aonic 50 with the central air at my home and with air purifiers from Hunter and Blueair. When set to excessive and measured a few foot away, the Hunter registered 84dB and the Blue 77dB on the SPL meter. The Bose as soon as once more handily trounced the Aonic 50.
I additionally observed distinct hiss once I activated the Aonic 50’s lively noise cancellation with out enjoying any music. You received’t discover this in a high-noise atmosphere, however the hiss known as consideration to itself in quieter locales.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe click-adjust mechanisms on the Aonic 50’s armbands regulate simply, however keep tightly in place as soon as set.
Listening Tests
I examined the Shure Aonic 50 primarily with Astell&Kern’s Kann high-res digital audio participant in addition to with an iPhone XS. Source materials included a mixture of CD-quality and high-res information, plus streams from Tidal.
Simply put, sonics is the place the Shure Aonic 50 shine. At first pay attention, the Aonic 50 come throughout as splendidly effectively balanced, heat, and intimate. Sarah McLachlan’s “Fallen” sounded oh-so-right. Through the Aonic 50, McLachlan’s vocals on “Surrender and Certainty” sounded wealthy, detailed, and dimensional. Turning on ANC or Environmental Mode, nonetheless, tended to flatten the soundstage.
A well-formed soundstage is a power I observed track after track. I used to be enveloped intimately with devices abounding on Imagine Dragons’ “Bad Liar.” Case in level was spinning up “Natural.” The opening refrain was exactly recessed in a deep, atmospheric expertise, with vocals firmly ahead and heart stage.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGShure selected a basic industrial design for Aonic 50.
Genre didn’t matter. Rocking to Joe Satriani’s “Surfing with the Alien” or Eddie Van Halen’s immortal “Eruption,” the Aonic 50 mesmerized me. Aaron Copeland’s majestic “Fanfare for the Common Man” as performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and performed by Eiji Oue got here throughout in all its magnificence. Bass drums thundered and trumpets had been clean, with brass and cymbals exhibiting a slight roll-off on the high.
But it was Elaine Paige’s defining rendition of “Memory” from Cats, and Yo-Yo Ma’s rendition of Ennio Morricone’s “Dinner” that made the hairs on my arm stand on finish.
I encountered a couple of disappointing quirks throughout my evaluate interval that considerably dampened my enthusiasm for the Aonic 50. The most troubling of those occured once I had the headphones on Bluetooth mode, however with no music enjoying: The Aonic 50 pumped out annoying digital noise artifacts. This occurred no matter supply: an iPhone XS, Astell&Kern KANN high-res digital audio participant, or my Mac. I can not emphasize sufficient how bothersome this was—it was nails-on-a-chalkboard irritating. And the artifacts had been current whether or not ANC was engaged or off. As quickly as I started enjoying content material, the artifacts would disappear and the noise ground lowered. The engineering group at Shure ought to tackle this shortcoming; hopefully, with a firmware replace.
Conclusion
Shure’s Aonic 50 headphones are constructed for high-resolution sonic bliss, whether or not you’re listening with a cable (analog or digital, by way of a USB-C cable) or wirelessly (by way of Bluetooth, with help for each Bluetooth codec that issues).
The undeniable fact that lively noise cancellation takes a again seat right here isn’t a giant deal—for me, no less than—however the annoying audio artifacts I encountered when utilizing these cans wirelessly with out music will likely be a deal-breaker for a lot of. That problem value the Shure Aonic a half-star on this evaluate, so right here’s hoping Shure can repair the issue with a firmware replace. I additionally discovered breathability to be a difficulty throughout lengthy listening periods, however your mileage might differ on that rating.