Mixcder has been producing excellent value headphones for quite a few years. I reviewed another set of Mixcder headphones a few years ago.
The ones reviewed today are the follow-on from the E7 and E8, and similarly are very good value for money, at £54.99. They aren’t in competition with the £300-plus headphones, of course, but for those who want to have good sound, via either Bluetooth or wires, and with a form of noise cancelation included as an option (you flick a switch), they are well worth considering.
The headphones have ear cups which fold and rotate, so they can be flattened down for easy packing. At 225g they aren’t heavy, but they are large, so the case they come in is bulky. In fact, it took up so much room in my backpack that I left it at home after the first trip and simply placed the headphones straight into whichever bag I was using after that. So far, they have survived. I’d perhaps feel a little more protective towards them if they were Bose and so very expensive, but using them for four or five hours a day on my commute and on walks and journeys using train and underground, they have stood up very well.
The sound is pretty good, although not excellent, and the same applies to the noise cancelation. Controls are easy to find on the outside of the headphones, and have good-size buttons so that you are less likely to turn off the sound when simply wanting to lower the volume. The same applies for the noise cancelling button. If you do turn it on, the difference is immediately noticeable, but it doesn’t blank out all noise the way top-end headphones do.
That said, it’s possible to listen to music without having the volume turned all the way up, and even at 80 per cent there was no distortion. I found them comfortable to wear, with the padded, soft foam pads and protein leather not crushing my ears, but providing some insulation from noisy trains, cars or announcements.
Mixcder says that when an incoming noise is detected by the headphones, “a digital signal processor (DSP) analyses the sound waves and creates inverse waves to cancel out the ambient sound”. When walking the streets you can turn off the Active Noise Cancelling, which then makes it easier to hear the bus or car as it comes towards you.
The specs (again from the manufacturer) are: “The E9 is equipped with 40mm drivers for a powerful, wideband frequency response from 20Hz-20,000Hz with impactful bass, a rich and detailed midrange and clear, extended treble. The CSR Bluetooth and drivers balance sound perfectly, especially in low frequency offering a crisp sound at up to 94 decibels.”
Pairing via Bluetooth was child’s play, and the range was fine for my use, though obviously if you leave your device in one room and then wander around the house or the office, you may find that it cuts out.
The headphones come with a cable and also adaptor for aircraft (though of course this doesn’t fit all airline systems), and you can also make wireless and handsfree calls.
The batteries come with 30 hours playtime battery life (24 with ANC activated) with plenty of extras.
Verdict Great value for money, easy to use, comfortable and robust.
Price The Mixcder E9 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are available for £54.99/$69.99 from Amazon UK, Amazon.com and Mixcder.
