The OneOdio Focus A5, priced at $69 in the U.S, is among the more affordable over-ear noise-cancelling headphones that come packed with premium features such as LDAC support. Is this a good value? Here’s a breakdown of my experience with them.
Disclosure: We received the headphones as a courtesy for review purposes. However, the review is intended to provide honest, unbiased insights about the product, based on personal experiences and observations.
Design & Comfort
The OneOdio Focus A5 headphones make a strong visual impression, featuring soft earpads with an elegant design and a subtle logo. However, despite their sturdy construction and satisfying clicky buttons, the headband feels somewhat heavy, which can lead to discomfort during extended listening sessions. Many people would complain about the lack of a carrying case but I often toss the headphones into my backpack and have no problem. My backpack has different compartments to protect the headphones; Besides the headphones are fairly flexible as the earcups can be folded up or folded flat, so you won’t have to worry much about its durability.
All control buttons, including a power, ANC toggle, volume controls, along with a USB-C port are placed under the right earcup. They are intuitive and easy to use.
The earpads on the A5 headphones are soft and comfortable, making them initially pleasant to wear. However, they can cause your ears to sweat after about 30 minutes of use, even in cooler temperatures. This often leads me to take breaks during extended listening sessions for relief.
Features & Connectivity
The inclusion of LDAC compatibility was a promising feature on paper but most average consumers listen to music via Spotify or other streaming services where the audio is heavily compressed. Therefore, there is absolutely no benefit of using LDAC.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is another key feature and it performed well in my test. It managed to reduce surrounding noise by approximately 60-70% when I took a bus. While it doesn’t completely eliminate all external sounds, it significantly dampens the low-frequency rumble of the bus engine, as well as much of the ambient chatter and noise from fellow passengers. As a result, you can enjoy a more focused and immersive listening experience, even in a noisy transit environment. However, some higher-pitched sounds or sudden noises may still filter through, but overall, the ANC does a commendable job at creating a quieter soundscape during bus rides.
Call Quality & Battery Life
The Focus A5’s built-in omnidirectional mic works well enough for indoor calls, but background noise remains a challenge outdoors. Battery life, however, is a highlight, offering up to 75 hours of playback (45 hours with ANC on). Quick charging is another plus, giving you five hours of use after just a few minutes of charging.
Audio Quality
For $69, it’s unrealistic to expect audiophile-level performance. The Focus A5 delivers a decent, but not extraordinary, sound. Listening to bass-heavy tracks revealed a lack of punchy bass and noticeable treble clipping. The audio profile of the OneOdio Focus A5 headphones leans heavily on bass, which can overwhelm other frequencies and lead to a muddy listening experience. While bass enthusiasts may initially appreciate the pronounced low-end punch, it lacks balance, causing midrange and treble notes to be somewhat subdued. This lack of clarity can result in listening fatigue, particularly during longer sessions, as the overpowering bass becomes tiring and reduces the overall richness and detail of the audio.
The sound lacking clarity in finer details compared to higher-end models. The Focus A5 is best suited for casual listeners who aren’t overly picky about sound fidelity.
Verdict
The OneOdio Focus A5 headphones offer sleek styling, commendable battery life, and a budget-friendly price. They’re an okay choice for casual listening or those primarily concerned with battery longevity, but they can’t hold their own in terms of sound quality against audiophile headphones. For casual or retro music listeners, they might suffice; for audiophiles, it’s best to look elsewhere.
If you’re interested in the headphones, you can buy them on Amazon (use coupon code FOCUSA5PRO for 10% off) or official website (use coupon code XMKGFG for 20% off).
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