TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
FOUR STARS - If you're looking for comfortable wireless earbuds that have ANC Active Noise Cancelling, but not an overly bassy sound - the Aukey EP-N5 should be on your radar. Even though the noise cancelling isn't the strongest.
Aukey EP-N5 specs:
Bluetooth 5.0
IPX5 waterproof (rain and sweat proof)
3,5-6 hours listening on a full charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
Buy Aukey EP-N5 on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon stores
Below this Aukey EP-N5 review, you will find comparisons of Aukey EP-N5 vs Tronsmart Apollo Bold, 20Decebel ANC/ Tozo NC9, Mpow X3 and QCY T5.
As of September 2020, the rating of this TWS has been decreased from 4.5 to 4 stars. Read here why.
All reviews on Scarbir.com are 100% unsponsored and honest. Please support my research by buying via the links on this site. You can also support me via PayPal. <3
Design, comfort and battery life
Let's hand out the first compliment to the Aukey EP-N5 straight away: the shape of the charging case is perfect. Unlike the many thick and round cases from other wireless earbuds with ANC, Aukey managed to keep the case slim. Even though it's not nearly as compact as the brilliant Edifier X3-case, it's just as flat - making it very easy to slide in any pocket.
On the front of the case, four LED-lights indicate the charging status of the case, and on the bottom, you'll find the USB-C port to recharge the box. Fully fed, the case can top-up the earbuds four times fully.
The Aukey EP-N5 earbuds deliver between 3,5 hours (ANC on, high volume) to 6,5 hours (ANC off, medium volume) playtime on a single charge. Those are acceptable specs, considering ANC isn't turned on by default, and you'll be heading towards the six hour-mark most often. There are competitors that offer way longer battery life, however, like the Edifier TWS NB.
It's the comfort that is its best feature, however. The Aukey EP-N5 earbuds consist of a medium-length stem that doesn't brush your cheeks. The part that goes in your ears is oval and compact. The earbuds are easy to put in and light enough to wear for hours - providing a level of comfort that isn't reached by competitive noise-cancelling earbuds like the Tronsmart Apollo Bold or TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94.
Connectivity and controls
Wireless earbuds with ANC tend to overcomplicate their touch controls or offer fewer controls than you'd like. The Aukey EP-N5 belongs to the latter category. There are no volume controls on the earpieces.
The touch panel is located on the upper part of the stem and responds quite well to your touches. A single tap makes you pause and resume music playback. Unfortunately, it can be done a bit too easily. With two taps on the right bud, you skip a track - by double-tapping the left earpiece, you return a song. A triple-tap activates the voice assistant on your phone.
Activating the ANC noise cancelling is done by holding the right earbud for two seconds. Hold it once more, to deactivate ANC again.
Unfortunately, connection options aren't stellar. Music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earpiece out of your ears, and it's only possible to listen to the right earpiece in mono mode. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection strength is great, happily - delivering signal up to ten meters, even with thin walls in between.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos in a blast on the Aukey EP-N5. Audio synchronizes perfectly with video on Android and iPhone - including the challenging YouTube-app on the latter.
There is a fierce delay in sound effects when playing games, however. It's more noticeable than on other new, comparably priced earphones.
In phone calls, the Aukey EP-N5 gives you that typical bright telephone-voice. That means your voice is loud and clear. However, the person you're talking to can sound like he's talking with the cheapest of earbuds - a bit tinny.
Taking a call is doable both indoor and outside, where surrounding noises are reduced well most of the time. Even higher-pitched scooters are suppressed fairly well. As almost always, wind proves to be a challenger for your voice. All in all, it's safe to take a call with the EP-N5.
Also read: The best $100 wireless earbuds with ANC
Aukey EP-N5 ANC quality
At 60 dollars, there's no doubt that the ANC Active Noise Cancelling is the most attractive selling point of the Aukey EP-N5. Then again, even at this price, there are more and more earbuds delivering ANC as well.
Please note: So far, wireless ANC earbuds only reduce the volume output of noises around you. They don't filter and quieten your surroundings like full-sized headphones from Bose and Sony do. That said:
You activate the noise cancellation with a long-tap on the left or right earbud. A beep will tell you it's activated; a longer two-tone beep tells you it's off again. Unfortunately, the Aukey EP-N5 doesn't have an Ambient Mode to put through voices and traffic.
The ANC reduces the volume of darker tones around you. Heavy engine sounds, electronic humming, and lower voices sound noticeably softer, and when they're distant enough, they may even disappear. Higher-pitched sounds are battled less succesfully. From people talking nearby to traffic in the distance: they're still audible. Besides, the harder the Aukey needs to work, the more you'll notice a white noise in your ears.
These are the scores without listening to music. You only need to play music on low volumes to remove surrounding noises entirely. Still - while the Aukey EP-N5 noise-canceling performs better than the Mpow X3, it doesn't reach the same level as the 20Decebel/TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94, or the Tronsmart Apollo Bold/ 233621 ZEN ANC.
It's recommended to turn the ANC off regularly. Not only will it save your batttery, it also helps when walking or cycling. The Aukey ANC is very prone to wind noises with ANC on: even when you're walking fast indoors, you can hear wind noises coming in your earbuds and the music.
Sound quality of Aukey EP-N5: Loving treble
The Aukey EP-N5 means good news for everyone searching for a balanced sound on their wireless noise cancelling earbuds. It tends more towards treble, than it's a bass-fest. Finally.
So far, the majority of affordable wireless earbuds with ANC opt for a dark, bassy sound. Sound characters that can be lovely smooth and comfortable to listen to entire workdays, but fall a little short in clarity on higher volumes.
On the Aukey, there's definitely plenty of clarity in the sound. Both male and female vocals take center stage in the music and sound clear. They come through with a decent amount of detail - it's possible to hear gasps in higher-quality recordings, for example - but they aren't unnaturally emphasized. They have more presence in the highs than on its darker sounding rivals, but can also sound bright or harsh - there may be times you want to decrease the volume a bit to keep the music pleasant.
Instruments in the mid-frequencies are also represented very well. Instruments like guitars, piano's, drums, and trumpets are upfront and sound natural and textured.
The Aukey EP-N5 has an above-average soundstage, accompanied by good instrument separation and decent placement: instruments and sounds come from your left and right.
While bass doesn't play the lead role in the Aukey sound, happily, there's still a fair amount of it. The EP-N5 delivers a steady mid-bass-punch, fast enough to make modern music genres like dance, hip-hop, and pop uplifting. The sub-bass is capable of a subtle rumble on top of it. When music calls upon both the bass-slam and the rumble, however, the bass can become a little muddy, and it's at these times, the sound can even be a bit congested.
Happily, you can improve the tightness of the bass a bit by turning the ANC off. It doesn't make much difference but seemingly improves clarity and bass-separation a tiny bit.
While not perfect, the Aukey EP-N5 has a balanced and bright, clear sound suitable for most genres.
Aukey EP-N5 comparisons
Aukey EP-N5 vs 20Decebel ANC
The 20Decebel ANC (also sold as TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94 and Tozo NC9, with slightly different designs) has stronger passive and active noise cancelling, mostly due to the ear-following shape of the earpieces, that already block out much noise from themselves. The 20Decebel also offers an Ambient Mode/ 'voicetrough' mode, which puts through voices and traffic around you. Soundwise, it has a darker, more bass-focused sound. The Aukey brings more nuances in vocals, and has a bigger presence of mid-tones, making the sound more balanced. It delivers better call quality and comfort as well.
Aukey EP-N5 vs Mpow X3
The Mpow X3 is another pair of ANC wireless earbuds with clarity in the highs. However, it has a more V-shape sound, meaning that it's mostly the bass and upper-mid tones that are emphasized. In contrast, the Aukey has more mid-centric sound, representing instruments like guitars, pianos, and darker male vocals better. The Mpow X3 bass can hit harder and dive deeper, but it can also sound brighter - piercing even - on higher volumes, while the Aukey can sound harsh - but not that harsh. The noise cancelling itself on the Aukey is slightly more effective; call quality is comparable.
Aukey EP-N5 vs Tronsmart Apollo Bold
The Tronsmart Apollo Bold (also sold as 233621 ZEN ANC) is another bass-focused, warm-sounding pair of wireless earphones with noise cancelling. The Apollo may have more audible white noise to counter surrounding noises, but it ultimately reduces noise better. It also has a useful Ambient Mode the Aukey lacks. The Tronsmart has an advantage in battery life, but the Aukey is better in handling phone calls and has a much clearer sound. Whereas the Tronsmart and ZEN ANC sound dark and smooth, with a more powerful boosted bass, the Aukey emphasizes mid-instruments and more prominent vocals. It's a better musical allrounder.
Aukey EP-N5 vs Aukey EP-T21/ QCY T5
Aukey surprised by rebranding the excellent QCY T5 and releasing is as the Aukey EP-T21. Consider it the basis of the EP-N5, as both models are very comfortable to wear, and both present a balanced sound signature. The EP-N5 has a bigger mid-bass slam and makes mid-instruments sound more natural, whereas the EP-T21 gives them a warmer undertone and puts more emphasis on the upper-mids. The EP-T21 sounds smoother and a bit more cleaned up, but the EP-N5 throws in noise cancelling and better call quality.
Verdict
With good call quality, great comfort, and a balanced if somewhat bright sound, the Aukey EP-N5 is one of the best affordable wireless ANC earbuds you can buy at the moment - if you don't expect too much from the noise cancelling itself, that is.
Four stars - very good
Buy Aukey EP-N5:
I received the Aukey EP-N5 for testing and reviewing purposes from Aukey itself. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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