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The modern headphone market offers a wide range of options, from compact wireless models to professional-grade headsets. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for style, functionality, or price. But how do you choose a pair that balances sound quality, comfort, and affordability? The OneOdio Focus A5 aims to be a solid budget option for music enthusiasts and gamers alike. Is it really worth your attention? Let’s take a closer look.
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Positioning and cost
The OneOdio Focus A5 headset features active noise cancellation (ANC) with four microphones that reduce noise by up to 45 dB. For wireless connectivity, it uses Bluetooth 5.4, supporting AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs.
At the time of this review, the OneOdio Focus A5 is priced at $69.99 / €68.82. The headset is available in three colors: black, white, and blue.
Specifications of OneOdio Focus A5
- Bluetooth version: 5.2
- Battery life: up to 75 hours (without ANC), 45 hours (with ANC enabled)
- Driver size: 40 mm, dynamic
- Active noise cancellation: hybrid ANC with 4 microphones
- Colors: blue, black, white
- Charging time: 2.5 hours, support for fast charging – 5 minutes correspond to 5 hours of playback
- Features: permeability mode, swivel ear cushions, foldable design
- Compatibility: iOS, Android
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Battery: 600 mAh
- Working range: up to 10 meters
- Weight: 265 g
Package contents
The packaging is quite basic. Inside the box, you’ll find the headphones, a user manual, and a USB-A to USB-C cable.
External appearance
The headset features a sleek and simple design in a soft blue color. The build quality is solid, with no complaints. The body is made of plastic, except for the soft ear cushions and headband. The large, plush ear cups fully cover the ears, providing comfort during extended music sessions. The headband is adjustable if you prefer a tighter fit.
The ear cups can be folded inward, making the headset more compact and easier to carry in a bag or backpack.
On the right ear cup, you’ll find the control buttons for ANC, power, and volume adjustment. There’s also an indicator light that glows white to show the headset is connected to a device. Below, there’s a USB Type-C port for fast charging, with a subtle battery indicator next to it. Additionally, there are microphone holes that contribute to the active noise cancellation.
The ear cups feature a decorative spiral panel that adds a stylish touch to the headset. These headphones are suitable for work, gaming, and music listening alike.
Ergonomics
The OneOdio Focus A5 weighs just 265g, making it comfortable for extended use. During wear, I didn’t experience any discomfort, thanks to the adjustable headband. The headphones don’t feel tight, and the ear cushions don’t create a vacuum effect. However, they can get warm after prolonged use.
The headphones have a universal fit that suits various ear sizes, which is a significant advantage over in-ear models. However, they are not ideal for sports, as the OneOdio Focus A5 tends to slip off during exercise, making it difficult to wear them for extended training sessions.
A big plus for me was that I felt comfortable even while wearing glasses. The ear cushions fit perfectly on my ears, without any pressure or discomfort. It’s worth noting that the headset is not water-resistant, so I was quite concerned when I got caught in the rain. Spoiler: nothing bad happened, but I wouldn’t recommend doing it again.
Read also: OneOdio SuperEQ T44 Open Ear Earphones Review
Connection and control
To connect the headset to your phone or another device, simply turn on Bluetooth on the device and press the power button on the headphones. The LED will light up white, and you’ll hear a sound prompt: “Power on. Bluetooth connected.” Then, select the headphones from the available devices, and you’re all set for listening.
What was particularly disappointing to me was the lack of an app for further sound customization.
To switch between modes, press the “ANC” button:
- one press to switch from Normal to Transparency, from Transparency to ANC (noise cancellation mode) and back to Normal
- double-click to turn on AI-Based Adaptive Noise Cancellation mode, to return to ANC from AI mode, you also need to double-click on the button
- to turn on the game mode – quickly press the “ANC” button twice in a row.
Use the following steps to control music on your headset:
- play/ pause a track – press the “on/off” button once
- turn on the next track – hold down the “on/off” button for 2 seconds
- return to the previous track – hold down the “+” button for 2 seconds
- volume control is performed by pressing the “+” or “-” buttons.
For call management, there are simple commands:
- To answer or end a call, press the “on/off” button once.
- To decline an incoming call, hold the “on/off” button for 2 seconds.
All the commands worked as expected, but it’s important to note that the headset supports AAC and SBC codecs, which are optimized for different software. However, LDAC (for high-quality sound) is not available on iPhones, as it’s not supported by iOS. The headset also performs well with two devices connected simultaneously, such as a phone and a laptop.
OneOdio Focus A5 sound quality
Unfortunately, the headset doesn’t deliver exceptional sound quality. I understand that the headphones are affordable, but even at this price, I expected better performance. The lack of an app makes it harder to work with the OneOdio Focus A5, as there are only a few modes that don’t differ much from each other. The gaming mode noticeably delays regular sound, creating a “lag” effect, although the sound in games itself was fine.
The sound quality can be described as average. The bass is almost nonexistent, and the high frequencies are distorted, creating an imbalance. When listening to music at high volumes without active noise cancellation, everyone around you will be able to hear what you’re playing (although even with ANC, the situation doesn’t improve much). This is quite uncomfortable, as we expect headphones to offer “privacy,” allowing us to immerse ourselves in our favorite music without external distractions.
The active noise cancellation (ANC) performance also leaves much to be desired. In a crowded café, you can still hear the conversations around you, even with ANC enabled. When the noise cancellation was turned off, the difference was barely noticeable. Because of this, these headphones are not ideal for total immersion in the audio experience.
During phone calls, I could hear my conversation partners clearly, but my voice sounded a bit off, as my friend put it, like it was coming from “a distance.”
Experience of use
I’ve never bought headphones of this format before, as I usually prefer in-ear models. Although this experience was new for me, I did find some advantages to this type of headset.
First, the headset proved comfortable during brisk walking—nothing falls out of my ears, and the headband stays securely in place, which is something I can’t say about in-ear headphones.
Earlier, I mentioned that the headset can get quite warm, but in colder weather, it can double as a replacement for a hat.
When I needed to concentrate, I simply turned up the volume. Of course, I didn’t get complete sound isolation, but I liked the feeling of sound surrounding my ears. I most often use them during work or study at home.
Battery life
The headset lasted 14 days on a single charge with active use. I listened to podcasts, audiobooks, watched movies on my laptop, and simultaneously replied to voice messages in chats on my phone. I also watched YouTube videos, listened to music, and took calls daily. After two weeks of testing, I just wanted to check how quickly the OneOdio Focus A5 charges. The indicator was already red, but the headphones were still working.
The headset has a 600 mAh battery, which is an average capacity in this price range. The manufacturer claims that after just 5 minutes of charging, the headset will last for an additional 5 hours. However, a full charge took 2 hours.
Conclusions
The OneOdio Focus A5 headphones offer a basic set of features at an affordable price, making them an appealing choice for those seeking a budget-friendly option for daily use. They stand out with long battery life, a stylish design, and active noise cancellation (ANC) that works well in moderate noise environments. The foldable design adds convenience for transport, making it easy to fit them into a backpack or suitcase.
However, there are some drawbacks as well. The main issue is the sound quality, which may not impress more discerning listeners. While they are perfectly suitable for watching videos, listening to podcasts, or casual music listening during travel, they may fall short for audiophiles.
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