Lots of us own wireless headphones or earbuds. Wireless earbuds have become an essential accessory for many, offering the freedom to move about without the hassle of tangled wires. I use wireless headphones when I am at home and wireless earbuds when I venture out into the great outdoors. They are all pretty similar; headphones going over the top of the head and sitting on, or cupping, the ears and earbuds pushing into the ears. But Edifier do like to do things differently and in style so I have been trying out their Comfo C Open-ear True Wireless Earbuds.
When they arrived, to be honest I was dubious about using them as they are very different. They look a bit like miniature over-the-head headphones for a doll, except that they clip onto your ears! Clip-on wireless earbuds, they sound painful and uncomfortable, however, they are anything but.
Edifier’s Comfo C wireless earbuds are sleek and lightweight earbuds, each one only weighs 5.8g. Unlike my previous earbuds, which have an in-ear design, the Comfo C have an open-ear design so they are not pushing into your ear canal and this design ensures that you can hear ambient sounds as well as what you are enjoying listening to, perfect for safety and awareness. They feature a very gentle clip-on design that offers all-day comfortable wearing, gently hugging the ear regardless of ear shape. They have up to 7 hours usage from a single charge (this depends on the users settings but 7 hours is based on SBC decoding and 80% volume, tested in the Edifier Lab). The pocket-sized charging case also has another 21 hours charge in it – 3 full charges, giving a total of up to 28 hours playback. And if you are in a hurry, a 15 minutes fast charge will give you up to 3 hours playback.
Features:
- Open-ear clip-on design offers all-day comfortable wearing.
- Smart audio channel detection for interchangeable use of left and right earbuds.
- Directional acoustic technology minimises sound leakage and enhances sound quality.
- 12mm dynamic driver with titanium-coated composite diaphragm delivers a dynamic, detailed, and powerful sound.
- AI algorithm ensures clear phone calls.
- IP56 dust and water resistance ensures durability.
- Multipoint connection enables smooth devices switching.
- Effortlessly pause/resume music with wearing detection.
- Bluetooth® V5.4 for seamless audio streaming and a stable connection.
- Compatible with the EDIFIER ConneX App for additional functions: drainage function, personalise control settings, find your earbuds, and more.
The Comfo C make use of Bluetooth v5.4 which enables stable, secure communication and low-power between devices (up to 10m / 30ft), making efficient use of the battery power. They can even connect to two devices simultaneously – I have them connected to my laptop and my phone. Why the need to connect to two devices? Well, it allows me to listen to music (or watch something) while working and being able to seamlessly switch over to my phone and take a telephone call without the need to remove the earbuds.
These lightweight and compact earbuds feature 12mm dynamic drivers with titanium-coated composite diaphragms, which deliver a loud, powerful and clear sound – I like listening to music while writing and my playlist featured an eclectic mix of music including Guns N’ Roses and As December Falls, and the sound was fantastic. They feature Directional Acoustic Technology that directs sound waves into the ear.
They are also equipped with microphones and AI technology to take crystal clear phones, low latency gaming mode and can even expel water droplets for when you get caught in a sudden shower!
Overall, I love the Comfo C wireless earbuds. Their unique and innovative design is excellent and the sound quality is fantastic, loud and clear with good bass. My initial thought when receiving them was that being “clip-on” they would be painful and unformattable, they are anything but as the clip-on is more of a gentle hug that comfortably fits any ear shape. The comfort and sound quality is just excellent. While wearing them, apart from sound pumping into my ears, I could easily forgot that I was wearing them.
As for the open-ear design, it works extremely well. They earbuds don’t push into your ears, so they are not applying pressure that can get uncomfortable after extended use, and they allow you to still hear ambient noises such as traffic and train announcements (as long as the volume isn’t as its fullest level of course).
Wearing them is easy and comfortable, despite my initial thoughts about being clip-on. The speaker bud goes in your ear (not pushed in firmly as with in-ear earbuds) while the other part fits on the back on the ear, hugging the ear rather than clipping on. This results in a secure and comfortable fit without any real pressure or weight on your ears. Once attached they don’t move, whether that’s just walking, jogging or head-banging to your favourite bands.
Technology is wonderful but can sometimes be a pain to setup for use. Edifier make it so simple and it literally takes a few seconds to pair the Comfo C earbuds to two devices. Out of the box they are already in pairing mode so it is just a matter of selecting them from the list of Bluetooth devices on your device (in my case, my phone). To pair with a second device (my laptop) using the multi-point connection feature, just pop the earbuds into the case and open the lid, press the button on the back of the case for 3 seconds and select them on the laptop Bluetooth devices – it literally takes a few seconds. Once paired they will automatically connect to the devices used the last time. They can also very easily be reset if you wanted to re-pair them with different devices.
You can operate them from your device or by touching the earbuds. It can take a bit of time to get used to, as in my case as I am so used to touching the part in my ear to change tracks, take calls and play/pause. With the Comfo C you can control the earbuds by tapping on them, just not on the part in your ear. To control the functions you tap on the band that links between the part in your ear and behind it. Once you find the sweet spot and remember where it is they are easy to control, it really is just a case to getting used to it when you have used other types for so long.
I have already mentioned that you can use them to make and receive calls. The feature an AI algorithm to filter out background noise. And it does work, calls are crystal clear so that you can easy hear the other person.
And if you are gamer, they have a low-latency gaming mode. There is nothing worse than playing a game and hearing the sound effects after the action has happened. Turning on the gaming mode reduces lag between the sounds and visuals in your favourite games.
They are also dust and water resistant (IP56 rated), great for exercising with as sweat isn’t going to ruin them. And they have a rather cool function when using the app. The Edifier ConneX app has an option for “Drainage Function” which when enabled automatically expels water droplets (whether that is sweat or rain droplets) by vibrating the earbuds for 6 seconds, shaking any droplets out – don’t have them in your ears while doing this.
The app also lets you do other things. You can view the user manual, watch how to insert the earbuds properly and control so many more functions. You can customise the touch controls to what suits your needs best, you can also change wearing detection settings, power off settings, and even helping you find where you have left the earbuds, as well as enabling/disabling game mode and customising sound effects.
I love that there is no correct ear to wear the earbuds in, unlike in-ear earbuds. With their symmetrical design they fit and work in either ear and the Smart Audio Channel Detection will automatically calibrate to ensure accurate audio output.
Then there is the wearing detection. When taking one of the earbuds out of your ear it automatically pauses the track you are listening to and starts to play again once you pop it back into your ear.
And then there is the charging. The earbuds are charged within the case. To charge the earbuds, just pop them back in the case and close the lid – simple, they just start to charge (as long as the case has charge in it). If the case has charge, the earbuds take about 1 hour to fully charge – no need to hunt for a power outlet, charge them on the go in your pocket. When you need to charge the case, it has a USB-C port on the back – just plug in and it will take about 1.5 hours to fully charge. There is no power adapter supplied, as with lots of products these days (we all have lots of chargers), but it does have a USB-C charging cable.
And if you are in hurry, a 15 minute fast-charge will give the earbuds up to another 3 hours playback.
I am loving the Edifier Comfo C wireless earbuds. The fit and comfort is superb, they are very lightweight, and they sound exceptional. Which leaves me in a dilemma – my favourite earbuds are my Edifier W320TN wireless in-ear earbuds but I love the comfort, fit and sound quality of the Comfo C just as much, so now I need to decide what ones to grab when I’m on my way out the door. Although that’s a great choice to have.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £59.99
For more information, visit www.edifier.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.