112 MACWORLD SEPTEMBER 2020
PLAYLIST REVIEW: ZVOX AV50 WIRELESS NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONESThe Zvox AV50 are available in a variety of colors.
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Zvox AV50 wireless
noise-canceling
headphones
PROS- Sound quality is rich and
clear. - ANC very effective.
- Controls are easy to find by
feel.
CONS - Flimsy-feeling build quality.
- Some crackling and
distortion when adjusting
headphones with music
playing and ANC on.
PRICE
$69
COMPANY
Zvox
easier to pack in your carry-on bag. The
Edifier case is the largest, with the Sony in
the middle.
Which model you would prefer
depends on your taste in audio
reproduction. If you like a leaner
sound, I recommend the Edifier
W860NB (with ANC on; turning it
off degrades the sound quality
significantly, as I discuss in my
review). But if you gravitate
toward a richer sound, the Zvox
and Sony fit that bill nicely.
BOTTOM LINE
The Zvox AV50 are excellent
wireless ANC headphones. The
sound quality is rich and clear,
and the noise cancellation is
very effective. I found the
AccuVoice feature to provide
very subtle improvement in vocal
presence and overall richness, but not
nearly as much as I expected. It sounds
just fine with ANC/AccuVoice off, which I
can’t say about many ANC headphones.
On the downside, the build
quality feels somewhat flimsy,
and the sound crackles with
ANC on when shifting the
earcups to get a good fit.
Earlier, I said that I’d prefer
the AccuVoice feature to be
independent of ANC, but since
its effect is so subtle, that’s
not really a concern for me
anymore.
At a penny less than $150,
the AV50 are a great value. If
you’re in the market for over-ear
ANC headphones, these ones
are worth a serious listen. ■