Edifier W800BT Plus Bluetooth Headset Review: Live sound with few updates [análise/vídeo]

Oh Builder W800BT is Edifier’s great triumph. This is one of the most popular headphones on the market when looking at the entry category. With the success achieved, the company decided to launch the W800BT Plus, with the same appearance, but making significant improvements to connectivity thanks to Qualcomm’s QCC3024 chipset. Costing R $ 289, the model arrives in the country as an affordable option for everyday use.

It has Bluetooth 5.1, Qualcomm aptX Low Latency, P2 cable input, and battery for up to 55 hours of playback, bringing a downgrade from its predecessor which offers 75 hours of sound. For the past few weeks I have been evaluating the Edifier product and have revealed in this review whether the W800BT Plus is a good option in 2021.

Edifier W800BT Plus review on video

ethical notice

Oh Techblog is an independent news vehicle that has been helping people make their next purchase decision since 2005. Our reviews are not intended for advertising, so they highlight each product’s strengths and weaknesses. No company has paid, reviewed, or had early access to this content.

The W800BT Plus was provided by Edifier on loan and will be returned to the company after testing. For more information, visit tecnoblog.net/etica.

Design and comfort

Just like Xiaomi does with the famous Redmi AirDots, Edifier has not literally changed the look of the W800BT Plus. In my opinion, this is the right strategy, after all the brand does not let the popularity of the product go down the drain – you can rest assured that many people can easily spot a W800BT on the street. The Plus version continues with an impressive design, its own and, from a distance, can also convey a premium product idea.

But only from a distance, because, like most headphones in this category, the gadget is built entirely of plain plastic, without giving a feeling of resistance. Despite this, with care, I believe that the W800BT Plus can safely last a few years. The foams, which mimic the skin, have a good finish and are very comfortable, without pressing the ears. In addition, in terms of comfort, the model performs very well: it weighs 203 grams and has a good feeling of lightness during use.

What I didn’t really like was the portability, or the lack of it. If you’re the type of person who always struggles to close your suitcase, you will most likely be irritated that you can carry the W800BT Plus. Edifier has missed the great opportunity to make the phone flexible, just like the JBL Tune 510BT.

Functionality and connectivity

As for the controls, the right shell contains the USB-C connection for power, the volume and play / pause buttons that protrude, and is also used to turn the headphones on and off. On the other side, on the left body, the brand has added the P2 cable entry and make the accessory already available in the package. In connectivity, the W800BT Plus has an application – Edifier Connect – which has basic functions, such as four equalization modes, which allows the user to control song playback and check battery status. It is a very simple and even slightly optimized app, but it can be highlighted by considering the product category.

The “Plus” in the name comes from the upgrades to the headset’s communication system. Unlike the W800BT, which has Bluetooth 5.0, the version reviewed here now has Bluetooth 5.1 and aptX LL (Low Latency) support, for low latency and clearer sound. The delay, in fact, does not exist and, on a daily basis, the W800BT Plus is a good phone for those who consume many videos on YouTube and streaming platforms. The range and stability are great and, in my tests, the device remained to play normally away from the mobile and with various interference.

sound quality

In sound quality, the Edifier W800BT Plus is a headphone with bright and raucous performance. Just add a pop to notice that there is a certain glow on the drum cymbals, above the piano, violin and vocals, especially in the female vocals. Bass and sub-bass are not preferred here, which somehow conveys the idea that the W800BT Plus is a balanced headphone, but both are felt vividly when placing a rhythm track.

In Love again, Dua Lipa’s amazing vocals sound too bright, and the mid-highs and mid-highs take over the track. In the background, you will appreciate the bass of the drums, but the performance is not that impressive. The British singer’s music on the W800BT Plus tends to generate screeching choruses and, at high volumes, the annoyance is even greater, as there is a lot of conflict between vocals and high-pitched instruments. Already Take my breath, by The Weeknd, which has very challenging overtones (with Abel high pitch and lots of background beats), reverberates with life and is balanced at low intensity, but soon ties up when there’s a volume boost.

I also tested the sonic performance to another extreme. indie rock naive, by The Kooks, plays more harmoniously on Edifier’s headphones. Different from Love again, there is a good separation between voice and instrument here, without causing congestion. In short, despite the hoarseness, I liked the sound of the W800BT Plus for the brightness that sometimes strikes and for the balanced beats. The real weak point is the screech that bothers you the most when you turn up the volume.

Microphone and battery

Despite CVC noise reduction technology, which is also provided by other input headphones, the microphone quality of the W800BT Plus is good, but the components cannot eliminate the noise around them. I have also tested other headphones with CVC and confess that I have not noticed any significant differences. In the case of this Edifier headset, the voice is not metallized and you can use it during a video call or to send audio on messenger without problems. For an entry-level product, the performance is quite decent.

Now, the device’s battery guarantees 55 hours of playback, a downgrade from the conventional W800BT which offers 75 hours. Edifier didn’t explain why, but I can tell the model continues to stand out even with this bass. In my tests, with the battery fully charged, I was able to use the W800BT Plus safely for more than a week. And if there’s no cost, just use the P2 cable so the music doesn’t stop.

Edifier W800BT Plus: is it worth it?

Yes. The Edifier W800BT Plus is a very honest input headphone and can be a good alternative to JBL models like Tune 125BT. But, if you ask me if it’s worth migrating from the conventional W800BT to the Plus, I’d say no, because Edifier hasn’t provided any relevant updates that justify the move. If, on the other hand, you are thinking of buying a new headphone for everyday life, with an interesting sound and a generous price, this model might like it.

I confess I found the sound too high-pitched for my ears, especially when the volume is turned up. Even so, I believe it has the potential to please other profiles and of course you can’t charge too much for a product in this category. The autonomy, even reduced, is still excellent and I still intend to make a discount for the input of the P2 cable. The connectivity is also liked: the W800BT Plus has a dedicated application, a multipoint connection and connects quickly to your devices. Edifier is to be congratulated on all of this.

On the negative side, it would be nice if the structure allowed the headphones to be “folded” to improve the carrying of the gadget and passive noise cancellation could be more efficient. If you think flexibility is important, then the JBL Tune 500 BT, Philips UpBeat TAUH202 or Sony WH-CH510, which are competitors of the W800BT Plus, are worth looking at.