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UGreen Max5c: $25 NC Headphone Review

Rate this noise cancelling headphone:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 7 5.4%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 17 13.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 68 52.3%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 38 29.2%

  • Total voters
    130
They are available just everywhere ;-)

- allegro.pl
- amazon.de

Mine arrives today. I'll immediately compare them with philips fidelio x2hr and if I can watch tv and the sound is not worse, they stay.
Well, the open back headphone architecture is superior in every inch so maybe my expectations are too high.
 
They are available just everywhere ;-)

- allegro.pl
- amazon.de

Mine arrives today. I'll immediately compare them with philips fidelio x2hr and if I can watch tv and the sound is not worse, they stay.
Well, the open back headphone architecture is superior in every inch so maybe my expectations are too high.
I should've been more specific. I'm based in the US and I am having a tough time finding these headphones.
 
Sound isolation in general is an important part of headphone fidelity, however I don't think pink noise is enough to measure it.

Rtings has excellent noise cancellation samples.

Edit; you all beat me to the punch. These ANC algorithms are pretty sophisticated but let's not forget passive isolation which also improves fidelity. In some ways I preferred my Sennheiser sealed hd280 or whatever to my 580 open model.
Where on Rtings did you see the sample?
 
So do you think is worth buying? To pull the trigger?

I have some questions if anyone knows of course.

1. Is the sound quality similar to an XM5 for example or not even close do you think?
2. Does it cover the ears or does it touch them?
3. Is the mic quality good for outdoor calls?

Thanks a lot!
 
Where on Rtings did you see the sample?
1732568220082.png

This is for the XM5, not sure if they have this for every headphone.
 
My headphones arrived today, and I thought I’d share a quick review!

Disclaimer: These are my first Bluetooth headphones, so I can’t compare them to high-end models like the Bose Ultra Quiet, Apple AirPods Max, or Sony equivalents. For reference, my usual go-to is the wired Philips Fidelio XR2.

Initial Impressions:
If you’ve never used wireless headphones before, I highly recommend getting one. The freedom they offer is priceless, and you’ll likely find yourself listening to music more often.

About the Ugreen Headphones:
I’m wearing them as I write this. The build quality is impressive. I have relatively large ears, and while the ear cups are mid-small, they still manage to fit.
The headphones are lightweight, compact, and feel great to use.

Connecting them to my TV was quick and seamless—it only took five seconds. However, I had to turn the volume all the way up because the sound wasn’t very loud. I’m unsure if this is due to the SBC codec or something else, but I’d prefer more volume. The sound while watching TV was slightly on the boomy side, though still acceptable.

Next, I installed the Ugreen app, where I noticed the default EQ setting was "Bass." Unfortunately, every time you adjust ANC or Spatial Audio, it reverts to this profile, which was disappointing. Switching to the `Classic` or `Rock` EQ profile made the sound noticeably better and more enjoyable. I hope this profile will stay active when I reconnect to the TV. When paired with my phone, the headphones were much louder, different codes was negotiated, likely the AAC, which is a welcome. Spatial Audio feature is trash, don't ever try to turn it on.

Sound Quality:
The first words that came to mind were "clean" and "transparent." The sound is neutral and doesn't overly emphasize any freqs. However, the bass, while present and extending to very low frequencies, lacks speed and the bang, giving it a somewhat “cartoonish” character. Instruments sound a bit digital and lack the musicality, maybe due to the limitations of Bluetooth. Well, this is not a "Marantz" sound ;)

The soundstage and stereo imaging are modest, but vocals come through clearly and are a highlight. Compared to the Philips Fidelio XR2, these headphones have their pros and cons. The Ugreen headphones are flatter and more truthful, offering a balanced sound without much emphasis. Mids are better too, however, the Fidelio delivers a more dynamic and analog-like experience with a richer, more fleshy sound in some parts of the band.

Conclusion:
Overall, I’m happy with these headphones and plan to keep them. At just €25, worth at least three times the price in my opinion. That said, don’t expect miracles.
 
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By default the EQ is on Bass. You have to use Ugreen Home App to change the EQ. The best for my wifey is Classic and Rock. You can use the usb-c cable direct to your smartphone or pc if you prefer and on Bluetooth too. Some Android you have to change the Bluetooth setting to LDAC manually. What impress me the most is the microphone performance. Bought 3 previously and another one for my wife as she use it for her online meeting frequently. For sound quality, IMHO it still cannot beat my Sony XM4 but UGREEN have more flexibility than Sony in terms of connections and mic's performance. Bought them during Sales $13 on my local online Shopping.
 
It is a backburner project to build such a fixture. Currently I don't have one and don't want to produce ad-hoc measurements.
Did you took the picture yourself or is it from the internet?
Because it looks like Choice and not HiTune.
 
Going by what the owner said he bought.
In aliexpress there are 2 models in Ugreen official store:
1.Max5c Choice
2. Max5 HiTune.

It seeams that according to the pictures it is Max5c Choice.
Max5 is the new model hopefully to see it review in the future.

Thank you.
 
It's the same model HP203 if you look at the customer review pictures that bought through AliExpress. "Choice" probably represent those which sold through AliExpress.
 
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