EarFun Air 2 NC Review: Powerful Bass and Quality ANC for Budget Budgets

Affordable wireless earbuds with strong bass and customizable ANC make EarFun Air 2 NC a top pick for budget audiophiles.

A Quick Dive Into EarFun Air 2 NC

Trying to find budget-friendly wireless earbuds that don’t sound like a total letdown? I feel you. EarFun Air 2 NC almost defy the odds by delivering a punchy bass, crisp mids, and controlled highs—all wrapped in LDAC codec support. At just $69, they pack quite a punch.

Now, don’t expect audiophile-grade magic here. The sound isn’t mind-blowingly detailed or immersive, but for the price range, these buds handle vocals with finesse and even bring a respectable sub-bass. Crank them up to max volume, and you might catch a hint of sharpness, but honestly, who listens that loud all the time?

What really elevates the listening experience is the killer equalizer tucked inside the EarFun Audio app. You get presets tailored to music genres and a custom option. There’s also a curious “personalized sound” feature based on hearing tests—though it’s a bit rough around the edges. After trying heaps of headphones, I can say not many budget buds offer this level of sound sculpting.

And then there’s the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Five modes, including adaptive “ear-adaptive” and wind noise suppression, let you tailor the silence. Plus, customizable touch controls mean these earbuds really play nice with your preferences.

But hey, not everything’s perfect. The “Theater Mode” spatial sound setting is more a miss than a hit—it slightly widens the soundstage but noticeably degrades audio quality. Also, these earbuds aren’t the sleekest on the block. The stems are on the chunkier side, which might not appeal to minimalists.

Still, the design has its perks: IPX5 water resistance shields them from heavy rain and sweat, great for workouts or rainy days. Battery life is solid, with six hours of playback with ANC on, and nine hours without. The charging case can keep you going for several days, even if you’re streaming hi-res tracks via LDAC.

In the end, the EarFun Air 2 NC provide a lot of value for their price. They won’t redefine your audio experience, but they cover the essentials—and then some—quite well. There’s stiff competition in budget wireless earbuds, with neat alternatives like the Sony WF-C510 and other EarFun models, but if you want affordable, reliable ANC buds, these are worth a look.

Price & Release

• Price: $69 (approx. $69 USD)
• Release Year: 2024

Launched in 2024, the EarFun Air 2 NC initially sported a slightly higher price, but now you can snag them for about $69 or even less during sales. If black-gray isn’t your style, they also come in white.

Specs Snapshot

• Drivers: 11mm dynamic
• Active Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Battery Life: 9 hours (ANC off); 6 hours (ANC on)
• Weight: 48g total
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 22 kHz
• Water Resistance: IPX5

Feature Deep Dive

EarFun Air 2 NC come loaded with features that punch well above their weight class. The secret sauce? The EarFun Audio app, unlocking multipoint connection, EQ tweaks, and more.

The EQ is especially impressive. Besides a custom mode, there are several genre presets—jazz, hip-hop, you name it. There’s also the “My Sound Profile” option, which tries to personalize the EQ based on hearing tests. I found this a bit underwhelming, with a somewhat muted sound signature, but it’s a promising feature that could improve with updates.

Noise cancellation shines here, with five distinct modes: Normal, Ambient Sound (transparency), Wind Noise Reduction, Adaptive ANC, and Noise Cancelling. Testing them in offices, outdoors, and public transit, I mostly stuck to Adaptive ANC. It smartly adjusts based on ear shape and environment, muting keyboard clicks and loud engines without going full silence like premium earbuds. Still, for the price, the ANC performance is impressive.

Battery life holds steady at nine hours with ANC off and six with it on. Using LDAC or cranking volume will reduce this a bit, but the charging case helps keep things going for days.

Touch controls are fully customizable, letting you assign volume, playback, and track skips independently on each bud. Other neat touches include “Find My Earbuds,” LDAC toggle, voice prompt language options (English, Japanese, Chinese), and a “Game Mode” to lower audio lag.

One feature that fell short was “Theater Mode,” which promises a broader soundstage but ends up sacrificing clarity. It’s a neat idea but not worth the trade-offs.

Overall, the app is user-friendly and adds real value, making the experience smooth and flexible.

Feature rating: 4/5

Sound Quality Review

• Punchy Bass
• Clean, versatile sound without harshness
• Supports LDAC codec

For its modest price, the EarFun Air 2 NC deliver surprisingly lively, detailed, and musical sound. While you won’t get premium-grade audiophile performance, the value here is undeniable.

Listening to “Too Young to Die – Extended” by Jamiroquai showed off soft, rich bass with clear midrange vocals and brass instruments. No harshness at moderate volumes, and the percussion was well-balanced. Backing vocals felt nicely blended too.

LDAC support adds higher-resolution streaming, accessible through the app (though you must disable multipoint manually). I enjoyed the upgrade when streaming lossless tracks on Tidal compared to more compressed Spotify versions.

However, these buds didn’t always reveal all the subtle layers in complex tracks. For instance, “I Want You” by Moloko had a strong bass punch, but the delicate vocals and instrumental nuances occasionally slipped away. That’s typical for budget buds, and LDAC isn’t a magic bullet.

Overall sound quality feels robust. “Magic” by Yung Gravy brought deep, non-overpowering sub-bass that didn’t drown out vocals. At max volume, a slight sibilance appeared, but I rarely needed to listen that loud.

With so many EQ presets, you can tailor the sound to your taste, though don’t expect audiophile precision. Still, for the price, the sound is excellent.

Sound rating: 4/5

Design & Build

• Long stems may not suit everyone
• Mostly plastic construction
• IPX5 water resistance

Design-wise, these earbuds are a bit divisive. The curved shape with long stems makes for easy handling but isn’t exactly subtle or elegant. The ear cups can feel a bit large for those who prefer a minimalist look.

Available in black or white (I tested black), the earbuds feature a gray finish with a bold EarFun logo—not the prettiest combo but serviceable. The charging case is neat, black with USB-C and an LED charge indicator.

Build quality leans towards plastic, consistent with budget pricing. They don’t scream premium, but the earbuds sit comfortably in my ears for hours without wanting to toss them out.

Durability-wise, the IPX5 rating is a big plus: they can handle water jets, meaning rain or sweat won’t ruin your day.

Design rating: 3.5/5

Value for Money

• Excellent sound at this price
• Customizable ANC and comfy fit
• Often available at even lower prices during sales

One of the biggest draws of the EarFun Air 2 NC is their wallet-friendly price tag. While they list for about $69, sales often push them even lower, delivering outstanding value.

Affordable ANC is becoming the norm, but these earbuds stand out with highly customizable noise cancellation, including adaptive and wind noise modes. Battery life isn’t groundbreaking but respectable, with comfort and sound quality the real highlights.

Value rating: 4.5/5

Features Summary Table

Comparing EarFun Air 2 NC to Competitors

JLab Go Pop ANC

If you want ultra-budget wireless earbuds, JLab Go Pop ANC is tough to beat. For under $30, it offers decent ANC, solid sound, and app support. It covers all basics at a crazy low price.

Sony WF-C700N

Sony’s WF-C700N remains among the best affordable ANC earbuds. They deliver detailed, immersive sound, superb comfort, and a fantastic app. Though their MSRP is $119, they often go under $100.

How I Tested the EarFun Air 2 NC

• Tested for two weeks straight
• Used in office, home, and on walks
• Mostly streamed Tidal via Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent two weeks with these buds, listening through long workdays, both indoors and outdoors, evaluating ANC and sound. Tidal was my primary source, though I dabbled in Spotify and YouTube. I also compared them to my Sony WF-C700N on comfort, sound, ANC, and features.

“For the money, you’ll be impressed how well Air 2 NC quietly muffle the outside world.”

Final Thoughts

EarFun Air 2 NC are a superb budget-friendly choice for those craving punchy bass and customizable ANC without breaking the bank. They may not dazzle audiophiles or sport a luxury finish, but they hit the key marks. If you want reliable wireless earbuds with solid features and sound, these deserve a spot on your shortlist.

FAQ

• What is the battery life with ANC turned on?
  Around 6 hours of continuous playback with ANC active.
• Can I customize sound profiles on these earbuds?
  Yes, via the EarFun Audio app you get EQ presets, custom mode, and a personalized sound profile option.
• Do EarFun Air 2 NC support high-quality audio codecs?
  They support LDAC, enabling better sound quality for compatible devices.
• Are these earbuds water-resistant?
  Yes, they have an IPX5 rating, protecting against water jets and sweat.
• Is the noise cancellation effective in noisy environments?
  ANC performs well for the price, especially in adaptive mode, but doesn’t match premium earbuds’ silence.

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