EKSA E5 Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones review

Root Nation has already introduced its readers to the gaming headsets from EKSA – the E900 Pro and the E3 Pro (Air Joy Pro) models, which impressed the editorial office with democratic prices and decent sound quality, as well as deliberately gaming black and red color scheme. Today, we have the EKSA E5 “urban” headphones, which look strict and neat, despite their size.

Full specifications

First of all, let’s run through the technical characteristics:

• • Bluetooth: V5.0
  • Battery: 920 mAh
  • Power: 5V 470mA
  • Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3003
  • Codecs support: aptX, AAC, SBC
  • Noice cancelling: -20~-25dB
  • Driver: 40 mm
  • Charhe time: 2,5 h
  • Operation time: 40 h (ANC + BT), 60 h (only BT) or 154 h (only ANC).
  • Bluetooth profile: A2DP AVRCP HFP HSP SPP DID PXP FM BAS
  • Bluetooth range: 10 m
  • Weight: 250 g
  • Impedance: 32Ω
  • Frequency: 20 Hz – 20 kHz

Where to buy EKSA E5

You can buy EKSA E5 headphones using the link on the manufacturer’s website! When making a purchase, enter the special code RN30SAVE and you will receive an additional 30% discount from the current price on the site!

What’s in the box

The first thing that the user sees when opening a strict black box is an unexpectedly large travel case in which the actual headphones are packed. I don’t know what made the manufacturer think that this is most convenient way of carrying the headphones, but the size of the case really surprises the unprepared user at first glance.

In addition to the headphones and the case, the kit includes USB Type-C → Type-A cable for charging and USB Type-C → 3.5 mm cable for connecting to the analog audio output if you want to use wired connection.

In addition, the set includes an “airplane” adapter that allows you to use the headphones in wired mode during your flight. On the adapter itself there is a touching warning in English and Chinese saying that is not recommended to stick the adapter into a regular outlet.

EKSA E5

1 - 10

As a bonus, there is a pretty nice stand for fixing your of headphones somewhere near your equipment. The only thing missing from the stand itself is the rubberized feet on the bottom. Still, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Read also:

• Marshall Monitor ll A.N.C. Wireless Headphones Review — Stylish Transformers with Active Noise Control
• EKSA E3 Pro (Air Joy Pro) gaming headset review. Buy Happiness for $28

Design

Very, very good. Not amazing, mind you, but we’re talking affordable Chinese headphones here, so no one expected leather cushions. These are rather strict-looking headphones, unlike their gaming counterparts from the EKSA brand.

In practice, the case turns is quite convenient and strong, with no obvious signs of use no matter what you do. In addition to the headphones themselves, it is quite possible to throw cables with an adapter into it, although the pocket for cables on the inside is not very big.

But on the bonus stand, the headphones look very decent and will fit into any interior, even on a TV cabinet, or near audio equipment. Thanks to a steel tube, the construction very stable.

Feel

250 g here feel in the hands and on the head noticeably heavier than, for example, Marshall Major III Bluetooth. And if we consider that the inner soft part of the headband is thinner than that of the eminent brother, the feeling of some discomfort from the pressure of the headband may arise a little earlier.

The sliding mechanisms of the temples, which regulate the size of the headband, are strong. At the same time, the effort required to fold or unfold them is surprisingly comfortable, almost imperceptible, although the latches hold the set values ​​reliably.

The impressive size (80 × 100 mm!) of the ear cushions and their softness make me want to award 12 points out of 10. Even not the smallest ears, studded with earrings, will be covered on all sides and you will feel as comfortable and cozy as possible.

The headphones themselves are located at such an angle to the headband that even in absolute darkness it is unrealistic to confuse the right and left sides. Accordingly, it is impossible to get confused by the buttons.

There is only one button on the left earphone – ANC on/off. There are three buttons on the right earpiece: one “universal” and two for volume control. Depending on the situation, the universal button can turn on or off the headphones (hold down for 1 second), switch them to Bluetooth pairing mode (hold down for 3 seconds), pause and unpause playback (short presses), answer an incoming call (one short press at the time of the call) or reset it (double short press). The exact same double short press, but during media playback, launches a dialogue with Siri both on iOS and macOS.

On the right there is a microphone for voice communication and a USB Type-C input, through which the headphones can be charged or connected to an analog sound source, depending on the selected cable.

Fun fact: if you connect headphones to a MacBook with a USB Type-C → Type-C cable, nothing happens at all. Neither charging nor sound work. But if you build a structure from  the bundled cable and an adapter (for example, from Apple), then charging will start.

Sound

Let’s start with noise cancelling. Even with ANC turned off, the headphone device is designed to successfully isolate the listener from the outside world. With active noise control you feel like the world around is turned off. This mainly concerns monotonous noise: the sound of a vacuum cleaner, running water, a kitchen mixer – all this seems to be cut out of the surrounding world during video editing. As for unexpected and sharp sound, like clapping your hands, expect no miracles: the processor obviously does not have time to react (or the frequency range is not the same), so in such cases, isolation is rather provided by the design of the headphones themselves.

When it comes to the sound, expect no miracles. Of course, describing the sound with letters on the screen is a thankless task, but with all the advantages and a really good frequency range, subjectively the sound lacks some juiciness. There are highs, there are mediums, there is even bass present, but all together it sounds a little dry. In films, the situation is much better, but it should be taken into account that testing was carried out on media materials from Apple Music and Apple TV+ services with default settings, without an equalizer. Surprisingly, there is no noticeable difference between playback via Bluetooth or cable. Perhaps this is for the best, since it does not spoil the user experience when using a wireless connection. In general, the sound is entirely decent. 4 out of 5, if we take the best representatives of this class of devices for 5, which is not expected at such a cost.

Verdict

• Is the EKSA E5s model worth $79.99? Most likely not.
• Is the EKSA E5s model worth $42.99 when using the promotion? Yeah, quite.
• Is the EKSA E5s model worth $38.70 thanks to a special discount for Root Nation readers? Without a doubt!

You can buy EKSA E5 headphones using the link on the manufacturer’s website! When making a purchase, enter the special code RN30SAVE and you will receive an additional 30% discount from the current price on the site!

In the box you’ll get:

• • EKSA E5 headphones
  • storage case
  • plane adapter
  • USB Type-C → Type-A charging cable
  • USB-C → 3.5 mm audio cable
  • user manual
  • warranty card
  • bonus stand

Enjoy listening!

Read also:

• EKSA E3 Pro (Air Joy Pro) gaming headset review. Buy Happiness for $28
• EKSA E900 Pro review. Wonderful gaming headset that costs either $50 or $25

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