1MORE True Wireless ANC In-ear Headphones Review
By Stephen Hornbrook on
Performance
Value
Overall
The 1MORE True Wireless Active Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones, model EHD9001TA, is the company’s first entry in the growing market for True Wireless with ANC. Previously they had released a couple True Wireless models, but they did not offer noise cancellation. These contain dual microphones and dynamic processing in order to offer two levels of noise cancelation. A hybrid dual-driver design with balanced armature and separate dynamic driver delivers an exceptional level of noise cancellation along with solid sound performance. 1MORE went the extra step to have this model THX certified, ensuring quality sound and exceptional noise isolation. Their battery life is quite good and charging is fast and easy with the included case. Bass lovers might find these a bit lean, but I prefer their well-defined, clean bass response and low extension.
The 1MORE ANC in-ear headphones also feature a Qualcomm chip with Bluetooth 5.0. This enables the latest Bluetooth Low Energy mode that allows for even longer battery life.
The ANC is very good at eliminating distracting noise, but also the most comfortable noise cancelling experience I have had. No strange air pressure feelings to note, just quiet comfort.
1MORE might not yet be a household name, but their in-ear headphones deliver solid performance and value.
Design & Comfort
The 1MORE earbuds are small and light and come in an all black finish with a carbon fiber like weave pattern that gives them a distinct look. 1MORE includes a variety of sizes for the silicon ear grips and tips to customize the fit. There’s a small button in the back of each earbud that controls power and other functionality including answering calls, play/pause and skipping tracks.
Inside these in-ear headphones is a hybrid dual-driver design with balanced armature and separate dynamic driver. Balanced armatures are great for true wireless earbuds due to their ability to fit into tight spaces. They also tend to be very fast and accurate, leading to better sound reproduction. They aren’t as efficient at moving air and creating those lower frequencies, so 1MORE has employed a hybrid design. The dynamic driver handles the lower frequencies with ease, which is essential for quality active noise cancellation due to the range of frequencies you are trying to cancel out.
Included in the box is a robust case which not only holds and protects your investment but also handles the charging duties. A USB-C to USB-A cable is provided to connect the case to your USB charger of choice, and the case supports the Qi wireless charging standard. The earbuds themselves weigh barely anything, at 7.9g, but the case bumps that up to 79g, or just enough to notice them in your pocket.
I found the fit to be great when not doing intense exercise. So for walking, I had no problems, but they were not snug enough for me to run comfortably without worrying they might pop out, although they never did. Around the house, working on the laptop, or sketching and the 1MORE stayed in place just fine.
Features
The 1MORE ANC in-ear headphones have two levels of ANC along with a transparency mode, and the option to disable. Level 1 is meant for more consistent background noise, such as flying on a plane and level 2 is then meant for a more active environment such as a cafe or workplace. A double-tap to either earbud cycles through each noise cancellation mode.
The earbuds feature auto play and pause by utilizing a proximity sensor in each earbud. Pop one out and your music is automatically paused, and it will resume once you put it back in your ear. There’s really no worrying about turning them on and off once they are out of their initial sleep mode.
A single earbud can be used on its own, handy for taking calls or Zoom meetings, but not quite as handy for music since the button controls aren’t quite as intuitive. This is not an issue for me as I find listening to music in one ear uncomfortable.
Sound Quality
The 1MORE earbuds sound better than your average earbud. Keeping them from being great is an overly processed sound, even with ANC off. Bass output is surprisingly good for a wireless earbud. Not only is the low end output enough to keep the groove going, but, more importantly, it is tight with clean response.
I am able to max out the volume level via my iPhone on the 1MORE earbuds and although it is a louder playback level than I would generally listen at, I thought there would be more headroom. However, with ANC, you shouldn’t have to battle other interfering noise when it comes to volume level, so my concerns with loudness are likely irrelevant.
On Radiohead’s “15 Step” track from In Rainbows, the 1MORE earbuds are able to hit that low end kick drum to ground the music, while high hats and cymbals have a touch of artificial sizzle. I reckon the high frequencies are a bit hot. With “Videotape” and “Nude”, Yorke’s voice is solid and full sounding with good tonality and no hint of nasallyness. The imaging of the piano tends to blend together on the same plane as Thom Yorke’s voice. On higher end gear they have a bit more three-dimensional separation, but at this price point I find it satisfying enough. On “House of Cards”, I am again impressed with the low end extension on these earbuds. It’s not overwhelmingly bass heavy, but it’s there, clean and crisp, which I much prefer over an abundance of muddy bass.
Taylor Swift sounds very good via the 1MORE True Wireless ANC earbuds. On “the last great american dynasty”, the bass beat was strong and precise. Her voice does have a hint of over-processing and sibilance. A lack of midrange here causes the 1MORE to fail to capture the presence of her voice. Lyrics with an “s” in them really highlight the electronic sizzle that doesn’t lend to a natural, transparent sound. For the price, the 1MORE provides a good listening experience with a lot of features.
ANC Level 1 is ideal for consistent drone of jet engines while flying or loud HVAC systems in an office. In fact, it just about completely nullified our running furnace and refrigerator at home. Bass response is enhanced in this mode, but it was never overbearing. If anything, the ANC just allowed myself to enjoy the music and sound quality of the 1MORE True Wireless earbuds more. The ANC Level 2 setting is less aggressive, allowing a bit more background noise in. I do not have too much of a preference for one setting over another, they both offered excellent cancellation. I often experience that strange air pressure sensation, or eardrum suck with ANC, but the effect was very minimal to none with the 1MORE. Having ANC on did not bother me at all, in fact I preferred to use them with it turned on.
The Transparency Mode setting takes sound from the environment feeding through the microphones and pipes it into the earbud. This is handy when you need to hear someone talking to you and respond or to be aware of your environment when outdoors. Though it does not do a good job at blocking out noise from wind. Compared to the AirPod Pros, the 1MORE True Wireless earbud’s transparency mode is not quite as good.
Battery Life
Listening on walks everyday for a week only ran the batteries down to medium level. An hour in the case brought them back up to 100% charge. They can fast charge to 2 hours of usage in just 15 minutes. The 1MORE device app is handy to check on actual battery percentage level. That’s about all it offers at this time, other than firmware updates for the earbuds.
The Bluetooth 5.0 feature powered by the Qualcomm chip is unsupported by my iPhone, unfortunately we could not test this out. Expect around 4 hours of usage with ANC on in Bluetooth mode, and with a charged case, that brings it to a total of around 18 hours. If True Wireless mode is available, that increases the usage time to 5 hours and 22 hours with a charged case.
Conclusion
True wireless earbuds are incredibly convenient. Small and easy to pack away, they are easy to always have on you compared to other headphones. Activities like walking, biking, or household chores are easier without any pesky cables in the way and the 1MORE True Wireless ANC In-ear Headphones are an excellent option when considering the performance and features for the price. Most impressively for me, I could enjoy the ANC in full comfort, without any of that sound pressure discomfort feeling. Enjoy THX certified sound quality without sacrificing on convenience, or noise cancellation with the 1MORE True Wireless ANC In-ear Headphones.
Pros
Comfortable, good sound quality, and solid battery life go along with excellent active noise cancellation. THX Certified.
Cons
Transparency mode is not as good as some competitors. The fit is not quite secure enough for my ears to enjoy activities with lots of movement, such as running.
Summary
A solid option for true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation.
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