Edifier NeoDots Review

September 16, 2024 4:52 pm

Edifier has a strong lineup of true wireless products, specifically from their NeoBuds series. Their latest set of earbuds is the NeoDots, which differentiates itself from other models with a new hybrid driver design. These are also Active Noise Canceling earbuds that aim to propel new technology that will cost you less than AirPods Pro. Are the NeoDots worth considering?

What You Get

NeoDots Earbuds
Charging Case
USB-C Charging Cable
S/M/L Ear Tips
User Manual

Look & Feel

Edifer’s earbuds share a common aesthetic, with a sleekness and simple elegance that helps them stand out. The earbuds are quite a bit bigger than their other earbuds but have the same ergonomic style that makes them comfortable to wear.

Design & Functionality

One of the main designs of the NeoDots that makes it special is the hybrid driver configuration. The NeoDots combines a dynamic driver with a balanced armature with active crossover and digital signal processing. This is common in wired IEMs, but only a few Bluetooth earbuds use drivers like this, namely products from Noble Audio. It’s good to see true wireless earbuds become more advanced in the hopes of achieving better sound quality. These earbuds also use more advanced technology for the best ANC possible with the help of AI. It gives the NeoDots a strong level of noise canceling. You can download Edifier’s Connex app to access features like EQ and game mode for low latency. It also contains standard functions from touch sensors, but there’s also automatic play/pause when taking the earbuds out of your ears.

Bluetooth

The NeoDots use the latest Bluetooth 5.4 technology with a multipoint connection. It joins the LDAC club too, offering 990kbps streaming quality. Using the NeoDots for many hours I never experiences any struggles with connection.

Battery Life

You can expect a sizable battery life with the NeoDots, offering 17 hours from a single charge. With the charging case, you get 56 total hours with the NeoDots before needing to use the Type C cable to charge it.

Soundstage

I’ve heard some products from Edifier that have carried some surprising width. The NeoDots are unfortunately a bit lacking though. Depending on the track, your music has the opportunity to spread out, but it’s not very consistent. I never got a sense of balance between the left and right channels, and they never felt that distinct from one another. Everything sounds a bit too tight for my tastes, but it’s not too congealed. Most of the presentation is inside of your head and linear, which is fine for a set of true wireless earbuds in this price range. However, the imaging just sounds too small scale for me to feel immersed in.

Low End

In its default tuning, the bass has a lot of dominance. It’s the most present frequency range in the NeoDots sound signature. They have more gain in the mid-bass than any other range but never appear too bloated. There’s some muddiness to it, but it still finds a way to be fun and highlight individual bass notes. With EQ, the bass timbre gets better with minor adjustments to gain and Q control. Bass instrument performances become a bit clearer, cutting through some of the significant resonance to become more concise.

Mids

Aside from the slight rise in the low and upper mids, the midrange is unsurprisingly recessed. While some vocal performances and instruments have nice definitions for true wireless earbuds, the response is mostly underpowered. It’s nothing you haven’t heard from other true wireless earbuds of its kind, with veiled resolution and surface-level detail. Using EQ helps make a bit of space, but some sound elements still lack clarity.

Highs

A lot of the treble is understated but still shows some average height. You’ll rarely hear any considerable bright spots that will sound harsh or unpleasant. They have enough definition to express basic cymbal presence, but not much detail outside of that. Everything stays in one place and is easy to consume.

Summary

While the NeoDots might be lacking some sonic qualities, overall it’s an engaging set of earbuds to listen to. The battery life is huge, and it supports a solid amount of tech that is seemingly becoming the new standard for Bluetooth audio products. If you’re looking for a set of true wireless earbuds that are affordable, with strong ANC and in-app controls, then the NeoDots are definitely worth it.