Edifier TWS6 & TWS NB Review

Edifier TWS6 TWS NB

Features & Stability

 

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Both of the earphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 and Qualcomm’s aptX codec. I didn’t experience any audio drop-outs or connection instabilities. They even work through a couple walls.

As for the water resistance subject, the TWSNB is rated at IPX4 whereas the TWS6 is rated at IPX5. They are not submersible but it will protect your earphones from splashes and sweat. Both of the devices utilize USB-C and have fast-charging capability. A full charge takes approximately 1h for the NB and approximately 1.5h for the 6. The 6 also have wireless charging compatibility. How awesome is that? Battery life is impressive on both of the units and they provide around 32 hours of juice.

Moving on to the controls, we have two different types here. TWS NB has a physical button whereas TWS6 has touch controls. “Which is better?” you ask, well, if you are following my reviews here you know that I am not a big fan of touch controls as they seem unreliable to me. I like the good old physical way, better. The TWS NB’s button lets you accept, decline and end calls, play, pause and skip songs, activate your assistant (whether it is Siri or Google), activate noise cancelling mode and ambient mode. The TWS6’s touch controls allow you to accept and end calls, activate voice assistants, pause and play songs. Unfortunately, there is no volume control for both units.

Edifier TWS6

Edifier TWS6

Let’s check the NB’s feed-forward active noise cancelling feature. To be honest, apart from the Sony WF-1000XM3 there haven’t been many earphones that impress me NC-wise. However, this $119 USD earphone has GREAT noise cancelling capability. It isn’t quite on Sony’s level but it is not subtle at all. To get a solid upgrade you have to pay nearly double the price. Both of the units have the cVc outside noise-cancelling feature during a call so you get to have a clearer conversation. I tested the TWS6 and it did a decent job. Many of the TWS earphones are not quite on this level when it comes to the call quality. As for the TWS NB, it didn’t do as good as the TWS6 but it was usable. TWS NB has ambient listening mode and I can say that it works as intended, you get to hear people around you better, without removing the earbuds. Moving on to amplitude level, for some people, TWS NB’s volume can be insufficient.

Edifier APP

Yes, there is an APP! Although it is only compatible with the TWS NB. In the app Edifier lets you control a few things. You can check the battery level and you can turn off the blinking LEDs on the earphones, which is a great feature if you ask me. You can toggle the NC and Ambient Sound modes, you can initiate the re-pairing process, you can set a timed shutdown, you can turn them off from the app and finally you can update the firmware which is always nice to have. I would love to see an EQ setting here as well, but that is missing. You always have the option to use third-party apps though.

Edifier TWS NB

Edifier TWS NB

Sound

I will divide this section into two as they have different sound signatures. The TWS NB is warm whereas the TWS6 is colder compared to the NB. Let’s go in detail, shall we?

TWS6

This one is my personal favorite. It has a neutral-ish sound. The detail retrieval and resolution are good. You get to hear the details in a more pronounced way, compared to the noise cancelling brother. The TWS6 is a good all-rounder, it has adequate bass, defined mids and extensive highs. The sound stage is wide and instrument separation is really good for the price. For example, let’s say that you’re gonna play something like Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman”, the TWS6 reproduces hi-hats in a way that you know they’re directly coming from far-right. You can actually hear the slight reflection from the right as well. This is good imaging.

The low region might be little light for some, but for me, it is definitely adequate. I am not a big bass lover, though I want it to punch when it needs to punch. The TWS6 does that and it is enough. There is a slight elevation around the mid-bass area and I think that keeps the TWS6 from being an analytic earphone. PRaT is really good, there is no dynamic driver lumpishness. The TWS6 handles congestion quite well for this price. As we know, it is a tough subject. Note thickness is somewhat on the thinner side of the spectrum. It has advantages and disadvantages of course. It sounds breathy and spacious because of that but it also lacks the authority and body of thicker sounding instruments such as the double-bass or some male vocals.

Edifier TWS6

Edifier TWS6

To recap, The TWS6 is a great contender at $119 USD, providing a detailed, breathy presentation and there is enough oomph to keep you going. Let’s move on to the NB and we will compare them in the next paragraph.

TWS NB

The NB is quite a warm sounding earphone. It has rich bass, perhaps even too much for my taste. Mids are full, treble is polite-ish. Of course, this kind of signature costs you some detail but it’s enjoyable to listen to. The NB’s approach is a little more consumer-friendly. Even though the TWS6 is technically superior, TWS NB has a fun sound and can keep you entertained if you are a fan of electronic music and alike.

The near-v-shape signature and 13mm huge graphene-coated dynamic drivers give the NB thunderous bass and a good treble response. The details are OK though the sound stage is a bit narrower than what I am comfortable with. The depth is good. Upper mids are pushed a tad more forward than rest of the mids and treble. This gives the overall signature a little more spark and boosts resolution a notch in my opinion. PRaT and congestion, unfortunately, fall short of that of the TWS6 but the margin is not that significant. For example, if you go ahead and listen to something like Eminem’s “Real Slim Shady” you are going to have a great time. The TWS NB is picky about the genre so keep that in mind.

Edifier TWS NB

Edifier TWS NB

Comparison

To wrap-up things, I will quickly go over the sound highlights of the Edifier brothers.

The TWS6 is colder compared to the TWS NB and it has better resolution, detail retrieval and PRaT. The NB has thunderous bass and its fun signature can be a huge selling point if you’re an EDM, Hip-Hop or similar genre fan. The NB’s noise cancelling feature works very well and it is not subtle like some other brands we have reviewed. The TWS6 lacks this feature. As a conclusion, it is clear that they’re aimed at completely different buyer profiles. It depends on what you want from them and they can satisfy you especially with this affordable price tag.

Basshead Showdown

Edifier TWS NB vs Kinera YH623.

Edifier has just a bit more sparkle whereas Kinera’s treble response is gentler. Mids are a little laid back on Kinera but the margin is really small. Both are pretty much on the same level when it comes to the resolution and clarity. Low region is elevated on both IEMs but Kinera’s bass goes a tad deeper. The rumble is just as great on both IEMs. You can’t really go wrong with either if you’re a basshead.

Edifier TWS6 vs Hifiman TWS600.

Even though I said that TWS6 can feel light with some tracks, TWS600 takes it a bit further and switching between them makes it clear that TWS6’s note thickness is greater than Hifiman’s. Both of their signatures are alike but Hifiman’s detail retrieval and resolution is tad better than TWS6. Do not forget that it is around 70 USD more expensive than the Edifier. Male vocals are better on the TWS6 and the low region of TWS6 has more definition to it. It has more authority compared to bass-light TWS600.

Edifier TWS 6 TWS NB

Edifier TWS 6 TWS NB

Last Words

Well, here we go. We have two very different IEMs in our hands and it is up to you to decide which is better for you.

The TWS6 is tiny and has a good neutral-ish audiophile aimed signature whereas the TWS NB’s signature is fun and more consumer-friendly. The TWS NB is huge in size but has the advantage of having one of the best active noise cancelling I’ve heard at this price. The TWS6 is perhaps the tiniest TWS I’ve ever seen. Both of them are comfortable to wear and easy to use. Do keep in mind that you cannot control the volume via earphones with both of the devices.

The accessories are plentiful. Overall battery life is great. Both of the devices provide about 32-33 hours of juice. However, if you toggle the NC feature on, this will drop to around 25h. Furthermore, the battery cases are different, one has an anti-scratch bronze-ish gray finish, the other is scratch-prone glossy black.

Providing that you decide carefully, I honestly believe that you can be happy with one of these Edifiers.

 

4.5/5 - (168 votes)
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Long time Tech Enthusiast, an ambitious petrol-head, Yagiz likes his gadgets and always finds new ways into the tinkerer's world. He tries to improve anything and everything he gets his hands onto. Loves an occasional shine on the rocks.

2 Comments

  • Reply May 23, 2020

    1v1 lol

    very useful info, thank you for sharing with us!

  • Reply July 22, 2020

    Paul Mckinley

    I cannot find an option on the edifier app anywhere to switch off the annoying blinking led lights on my Edifier TWS earbuds… Can you tell me how to please?

    Paul.

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