QCY MeloBuds N20
The MeloBuds N20 are budget earphones with ANC and app support. They are very inexpensive at around $30. Let's take a look and see if they play at or above their price range.
See link to the YouTube review at the end of this post.
Hardware
The case for the MeloBuds N20 is very similar in size and shape to the case for the MeloBuds N70 (https://www.jpwhiteside.com/qcy-melobuds-n70-xmems-again/); it's a relatively small case that is rounded and slightly slippery. It looks a lot like a large pebble or a flattened egg. It's small enough to fit in the small front pocket of men's jeans but is too big to fit in the small pocket of my lady jeans. There is no reset button inside or outside the case and the finish is a bit plainer than the N70, but this is to be expected as these earphones are their less expensive sibling. The earphones themselves are nearly identical to the N70 as well.
The primary difference is that the ear tips included with the N70 are gray and the ear tips for the N20 are black and there is no visible branding on the stem of the N20 whereas the N70 has the QCY circle branding at the bottom of the stems of each earphone. They are very nearly the same size and color with the N70 having a slightly shinier finish. They aren't the most comfortable earphones I've ever used but the earphones fit my ears fairly well and I was able to wear them for hours at a time without wanting to pull them out in frustration or pain. According to QCY, these are IPX4 rated, so they could be used for exercise or jaunts outside in rainy conditions.
Connectivity
I was very disappointed with the range on these buds. Normally I'm able to walk all around the main floor of my house with no dropouts, but with this set, I lost connection in my bathroom. So much for listening to podcasts while I brush my teeth. Wait, what did you think I was using them in the bathroom for? Anyway, suffice it to say that these underperform most other earphones I have in my collection, but they aren't the absolute worst. They do operate fine in my kitchen, a location where it is common for Bluetooth devices to fail me, and I have used products that couldn't handle that one wall of separation. Bluetooth connectivity and range is below average but if you keep your phone or connected device nearby, this probably won't be an issue for you. The earphones use Bluetooth 6.0 and offer multipoint connectivity.
Battery Life
QCY rates these for 30 hours of playtime with the case and 7.5 hours of ANC use with just the earphones and 40 hours with the case and 10 hours for just the earphones with ANC turned off. I tested these using the AAC codec as that was what was available to me in the settings of my test device. With that in mind, I was able to use these for a few hours at a time over about 3 or 4 days before needing to recharge the case. I never ran into a situation where I was able to drain the earphones in a single listening session. I had ANC on the entire time I tested them so as to give them the best workout. While they aren't rated at more than 8 hours, I think with breaks throughout the day, these would get many people through a full workday. A 10-minute charge will yield 2 hours of use, again I assume with ANC turned off.
Software/Controls
I think I am done reviewing QCY products, at least for now. I have the MeloBuds N70, which I liked quite a bit and the H3S headphones, which are very competent and a good value. But I've had problems with the app failing to connect and that really limits what I am able to review. It may be an Android problem since my test devices are all Android so I can easily test codecs like LDAC as applicable, but that's just even more reason for me to put a pause on QCY products. As with the H3S, you are able to control a variety of things using the touch controls: play/pause, previous/next track, answer/end call, voice assistant, and ANC/transparency modes. Volume controls are not available out of the box. But I'm not able to test any EQ features and that's really a big bummer when it comes to considering sound.
Sound
And, since we're talking about sound, let's plow on. At this price range, I thought it would be most suitable to compare them to the Moondrop Space Travel 2, another set of ANC Bluetooth earphones in the $30-40 price range. While the QCY wins right away with a superior case (I despise the Space Travel 2 case), I will aim to focus on sound differences and try not to get sidetracked by things that annoy me beyond that. The Moondrop app does work for me, but to be fair, I will compare the out of the box sound. If the apps work for you, you'll have opportunities to change their sound, especially with the Space Travel where EQ is one of the key advantages, but the default sound is nevertheless important as many people never install the app or play around with EQ.
The N20 have good midrange presence with bass that isn't overpowering. The bass is a tad bit stronger than on the Space Travel 2, but they are very comparable in terms of bass and midrange. The treble on the Space Travel is just a little bit more sparkly than on the N20, but they are very similar here as well. Clarity and soundstage are likewise; neither feels especially spacious but come across as more intimate with an "in your head" type of sound/feel. I don't think this is a bad thing but for people who want a wide soundstage or the feeling of speakers placed in front of you, you'll probably want to look elsewhere and spend more. I'm actually quite pleased that these are so similar because it means you can focus on whatever other features are important to you. The Space Travel 2 offers a superior EQ system, but the QCY has significantly better ANC performance.
ANC
QCY indicates that these earphones are capable of 50dB of noise reduction. Apparently, you can change ANC modes in the app, but I can only use the controls to cycle ANC/transparency on and off since I couldn't connect to the app. It appears that the default is adaptive ANC. As with many Bluetooth headsets where ANC isn't the trademark feature, it is capable of greatly reducing the sound of mid to low pitch hums such as air conditioners and heaters. It's also fairly good at reducing steady state white noise. Voices will still come through but they will be noticeably muted. Other sounds will also break the silence, such as typing on a keyboard or tapping on a desk. It's not best for use in truly noisy places or in busy outdoors scenarios such as city streets. These are really intended to give you a better background for your audio but aren't intended to put you in an auditory bubble.
Microphone Performance
The microphones on the N20 do pretty well with background noise and even some light wind. But as soon as the wind blows right in your face at a good clip, your voice will become a blurry bleary mess. Nevertheless, these perform fairly well for their price point and in calls in a quiet room or office environment you will be clearly heard and understood. The voice quality isn't the absolute best so I wouldn't advocate for using them for work calls or calls requiring clear and professional sound. But otherwise, the microphone is fine.
The MeloBuds N20 perform very well in the price category and compete nicely against the Space Travel 2. The Space Travel 2 have a slight edge in sound with a more balanced sound out of the box, but the EQ system is superior to what QCY offers. However, if protection against water or ANC performance is important to you, the N20 is the better choice. The N20 are an excellent set of starter Bluetooth earphones, or a good choice for someone who wants to spend as little as possible but still get something with solid quality. They would also make a good choice as a backup pair to keep in your bag or luggage. With the quick charge feature, you can be up and running with them in no time.
Amazon affiliate link: (please note making purchases using this link adds no extra cost to you but helps support me and my work on this website and my YouTube channel. Thanks in advance for your support!)
YouTube Review:
