Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: Review

The exquisitely designed and understated Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 boasts all the best Bluetooth codecs for wireless listening in addition to 3.5mm and USB-C connected audio (beware, owners of iPhone 15). In fact, they work quite well overall, particularly when it comes to spatial audio. They are a good product, save for a slight lack of cohesive musicality (mainly due to an overly bright treble, before any EQ tweaks) and mediocre noise reduction.

Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 specifications

Features

The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 looks great. Furthermore, they support Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound, which means that aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, normal aptX, and LDAC—all of the most advanced wireless audio codecs available today—all complement their not-here-to-mess-around look. The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2’s attempt to make it into our list of the finest wireless headphones ends with a unique USB-C connector that’s used for more than simply charging.

It means that high-resolution USB audio is now available as well, rounding off an incredible array of connectivity choices that includes USB-C audio from your work MacBook Pro, older sources in a typical wired hi-fi system, and wireless Bluetooth music pingged from your phone. Put these headphones on your list if that sounds nice to you. However, Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2’s innovative spatialized audio technology is the standout feature of these much awaited second-generation Shure cans.

1. SOUND QUALITY

• broad and enlightening clarity and differentiation
• can occasionally come over as treble-centric
• Not the most harmonious musical experience

Starting with Ritchie Sacramento by Mogwai on Tidal (a FLAC file) over USB-C to my Mac, the glittering chimes and spacious ambient backdrop are pensive and more vivid than through weaker headphones. The rhythm drives everything, and when sonic objects jangle and flit between ears, a unique midrange clarity is exposed. Paolo Nutini’s Loving You is a joy, with his rich voice surrounded by quick guitars and smooth rhythms.

Jamie T’s Sticks ‘n’ Stones is dynamic and engaging on the iPhone, making me feel like Jamie and friends are at Hampton Wick Station. The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 tends to over-celebrate the treble, which may make the mix seem disorganised and confused. Each melodic thread seems to be placed based on frequency. When T’s lyrics should be the focus, female supporting vocal “ah”s appear too often.

Also Read- Jabra Evolve2 75 Review

2. DESIGN

• The left earcup has a 3.5mm jack and the right has a USB connector; the design is flat but not foldable.
• When fitting them, longer hair may get trapped in the hinge points.

Do you miss concertina-folding headphones for portability? They won’t be here. The large Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2’s earpieces lie flat like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, Focal Bathys, or newer Fairphone FairBuds XL, and its hard-shell case is slimmer than the Focal’s, but it’ll still take up space in your bag unless you use the strap to attach it to a carabiner on your backpack. The construction is sleek, and the hinges spin softly and slowly (be cautious; the anchor point is in the rear of the headband, and I grabbed my hair a few times), so it’s unusual that the headband is noisy if you need to adjust the size. Since I’m right-handed, I like that the physical buttons are all on one earcup, but people with bigger fingers (or lefties) may find this tedious. The earcups and headband are well-padded. One cable port on each earpiece seems odd, but it’s not a big deal.

3. VALUE

• A premium option is spatial audio.
• Flexible USB-C audio connectivity increases
• Maybe the just acceptable ANC isn’t what you’re looking for

First revealed on August 31, the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 arrives in September 2023’s third week. High-end over-ear headphones are priced significantly. That MSRP is lower than the debut price of the April 2020 Shure Aonic 50, which was priced at $399 or £359, or AU$580, for the high-end consumer market. Shure’s new pricing strategy undercuts the Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399 / £380 / AU$649), Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 ($399 / £379 / approx. AU$575), and Edifier Stax Spirit S3 ($399 / £330 / approx. AU$640) by $50. The Illinois audio expert placed the Aonic 50 Gen 2 beside the $349.95, £300, and AU$549.95 Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. Smart if it performs well.

Advantages And disadvantages of Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2

FAQs

• Is it the best noise cancelling headphones?

With its excellent hybrid active noise cancellation, the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 is a serious candidate for the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market right now. Thanks to microphones located inside and outside the earcup, the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 scope can naturally adjust your auditory environment. However, you may also help it by selecting one of four selectable modes: Light, Moderate, Max, and MaxAware.

• Which features do you get from this?

This feature can be used in three different modes: Podcast, Music, and Cinema. The good news is that they are utterly wonderful. They bring a wealth of clarity and distinction to voices in movies and podcasts, but they also bring to light additional sounds in your often listened-to music selections.

• How much potential battery charge is there?

45 hours is excellent (though obviously not as good as the Edifier Stax Spirit S3’s 80-hour endurance, but the comparison is skewed because the Edifier headphones lack ANC). Most significantly, Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2’s weighs only 340 grams.