The $80 EarFun Wave Pro are the best budget noise-canceling headphones I’ve tested
Content is created by CNN Underscored’s team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. When you buy through links on our site, CNN and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Learn more
Most consumers know EarFun for its inexpensive wireless earbuds, many of which rank among our favorite budget options. Releases like the Air Pro 3 proved the company could deliver effective noise cancellation and hi-fi sound in a true wireless design without charging a premium. EarFun is ready to do the same with over-ear headphones, releasing its most ambitious product to date: the Wave Pro.
$80 wireless cans with adaptive ANC, Bluetooth multipoint, high quality audio and nearly four times the battery life of category leaders such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra sound too good to be true. Right? Well, catch your jaw before it hits the ground because these hallmarks are legit.
The Wave Pro aren’t perfect, nor can they match the overall performance of the best noise-canceling headphones, but what’s offered is undeniably gratifying.
EarFun Wave Pro
EarFun’s debut headphones are a versatile entry that rewards listeners with superb noise neutralization and sound for a fraction of Apple, Bose, and Sony’s flagships. You can save a total of 30% on these new cans by checking the coupon and using our exclusive code EWPROCNN at Amazon.
What we liked about them
ANC that greatly surpasses expectations
The Wave Pro come with strong, capable noise reduction. EarFun developed several ANC modes — Comfort, Strong, Wind and Ambient — each of which perform differently. Strong does a terrific job of eliminating unwanted noises from the soundstage. The landscaping that occurred outside of my balcony during office hours wasn’t disruptive; electric hedge trimmers and leaf blowers went unnoticed.
Only high-pitched sounds (like bird chirping and sirens) were audible during testing. Besides that, EarFun’s technology shut out low frequencies and rumbling noises with ease. Wind mode heavily reduced whooshing effects and Comfort mode minimized household distractions like chatter and loud TVs.
Then there’s Ambient mode for increasing situational awareness. I was shocked by how well the mics picked up incidental noises and vocals. Everything sounded clear and natural.
Outstanding sound that’s given a hi-res boost
EarFun’s 40mm DLC dynamic drivers, Hi-Res Audio certification and LDAC codec support bring forth resonant sound with striking vocals and thumping bass response.
Phil Collins’ “Sussudio” was bubbling with vibrance, thanks to the striking snares and wobbling Minimoog synths. Meanwhile, hip-hop bangers like Busta Rhymes’ “Put Where Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” demonstrated the Wave Pro’s punchy and well-balanced low end without compromising frequencies. The midrange was rich on both tracks; each artist sounded prominent and transparent over their enthralling productions.
Orchestral recordings were also delightful. The hauntingly bright “ahhs” and lively horns on Donald Byrd’s “Cristo Redentor” blended beautifully over the melancholy double bass and piano notes.
You can personalize audio in the companion app. There’s an adjustable 10-band EQ to create your own sound profile, plus numerous presets engineered for specific music genres and sonic elements (e.g., bass, treble).
LDAC makes a noticeable difference in streaming by bringing out more details in tracks at a lower bitrate (up to 990 kbps). The feature works with compatible Android devices and improves the listening experience on the best music streaming services (I recommend Tidal for its advanced audio formats). SBC and ACC provide stable streaming on Android and iOS/macOS platforms.
Noteworthy craftsmanship
These headphones look and feel a lot better than their MSRP suggests. A slate gray colorway with silver accents gives them a stylish appearance. Plush leather on the earpads and headband is a nice touch that enhances comfort. The all-plastic frame can survive tumbles to the ground.
Bundled with the purchase is a carrying case, a basic accessory that’s commonly missing from many wireless headphones under $100. EarFun’s hard-woven case stores the Wave Pro and extra cables, and it’s not too big or heavy to carry by hand or in your everyday bag.
Class-leading battery life
A full charge equates to 80 hours of listening time. That crushes the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (24 hours) and Sony WH-1000XM5 (30 to 40 hours). Enabling ANC brings battery life down to 55 hours. I’ve enjoyed 1.5 weeks of heavy use (5 hours daily) and still have about 10% left in the tank. EarFun’s quick-charging technology is beastly, generating 5 hours of playtime on just a 5-minute charge.
What we didn’t like about them
Not recommended for voice calls
The Wave Pro isn’t a serviceable calling headset. According to some friends, there was a lot of background noise and muffle on my end that made it difficult to communicate. I figured being in a quiet environment like my office would have increased call quality, but it didn’t. Muffling was still an issue.
Awkward and substandard control scheme
I’m disappointed with the Wave Pro’s physical buttons and how they’re programmed. All four buttons are multifunctional and execute different commands through two input methods: single press and long press. The power/pairing button is used for playback and call management, which is an overwhelming setup, and can’t be reassigned with other functions. The volume rockers can back (-)/skip (+) a track and the NC button will cycle through different listening modes or pull up your phone’s native digital assistance.
Google Assistant and Siri don’t operate well. I often had to repeat voice commands three times before the mics registered them.
Bottom line
There are plenty of affordable noise-cancellers with strong audio and battery life, but the Wave Pro are something special, and they certainly match the hype we had for them when we first tried them out at CES 2024.
EarFun equipped these cans with serious specs that elevate sound quality. LDAC results in fantastic streaming playback. Noise cancellation is top tier and removes a high amount of external sound and wind. Extras such as the built-in EQ, multipoint technology to pair to two devices simultaneously and super-powerful quick charging push them ahead of the sub-$100 class.
If you desire high performance at a low price and don’t plan on using your headphones for calls, then the Wave Pro make for an excellent purchase.
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
