The LDAC support, combination of dynamic and balanced armature drivers, and emphasis on sonic purity of 1More’s Evo noise-cancelling true wireless headphones are aimed at luring audiophiles. On this front, they largely succeed, although other features aren’t as interesting. For instance, their active noise cancellation (ANC) falls short of expectations, the 1More companion app is devoid of a programmable EQ, and the on-ear controls are subpar. The Jabra Elite 7 Pro and the Anker Liberty Air 2 Pro are superior alternatives because they both offer more effective noise cancellation and audio EQ adjustments for a comparable price.
Design
All of the truly wireless devices from 1More that we have examined feature the same design: an oval touch surface and a bulbous housing that is contoured ergonomically to fit comfortably into the ear. The Evo are the best representation of that aesthetic from 1More that we have seen so far. At least for our ears, they fit easily, and a slight twist locks them in place. So far, we haven’t felt any discomfort when wearing the Evo. In contrast to other of 1More’s less expensive efforts, like the PistonBuds, the design’s passive noise isolation is good, and the touch controls work effectively. The touch controllers’ surface area is larger, which makes it less likely that presses won’t be recognized. They are also more responsive: double press to start playing, triple tap to activate voice control, and hold to switch between noise cancelling settings. All operate with the bare minimum of fuss. The controllers’ single-tap, double-tap, and triple-tap limitations are a letdown. To add/swap track skipping and adjust volume, open the 1More app. However, more controls would have been welcome to reduce the frequency with which you had to remove your mobile device from your pocket. In terms of water resistance, 1More claim IPX5, which is superior to a lot of noise-canceling earbuds because it can withstand water spray from a water tap. Along with the standard medium, extra tiny, small, large, and extra-large ear tips are also included. The Evo are fairly attractive for true wireless earbuds. The glossy, reflective touch surface with a gold outline gives it a premium appearance, more so than the likes of Jabra Elite 7 Pro or even Beats Fit Pro earphones. It has a subtle, minimalist look that we like. There aren’t any of the colorful options that come with 1More’s more affordable earphones because they are only offered in black and white.
1More Evo review: Comfort
The 1More Evo was quite cozy to wear, in our opinion. Although we have always found 1More’s earbuds to be quite ergonomic, we haven’t always been successful in getting them to stay in our ears. We believe that the ear tips on the Evo help to solve this issue. The silicone itself is impressive, but the fact that there are five various sizes to pick from should make it easy for the majority of individuals to find a set that fits. It has a considerably more sticky recipe than the majority of the silicone we’ve used, and it works wonders for securing and maintaining the Evos in place. Additionally, it is softer, which increases comfort. They might not last as long as more durable tips because they’re so soft and grippy, but we think it’s totally worth the trade-off. Even at this price, not all earbuds can offer 5 sizes of silicone ear tips as is the case with these ones. With so many possibilities, the fit was really snug and secure and remained in place despite our frequent movement. Because of this, these will make good workout headphones. All you have to do to secure them is insert them and twist them. You may rest easy knowing that these are water resistant because they have an IPX4 grade. You will need to exercise additional caution when near bodies of water because they cannot completely withstand sprays of sweat or rain. The built-in touch controls on each earbud’s exterior allow you to pause or resume music with a double tap, call your phone’s voice assistant with a triple tap, or switch between noise cancelling modes by touching and holding for a few seconds.
Connectivity
The Evo utilize Bluetooth 5.2, which offers a smooth and dependable connection in addition to the flexibility of using each earbud separately for music and calls. It’s simple to pair them on iOS, but Google Fast Pair makes it even simpler on Android. And in this case, 1More deserves a lot of praise. A first for 1More wireless earbuds and a huge convenience in an era when we’re all multitasking much more, it has even added Evo Bluetooth Multipoint compatibility for those who want to connect the buds to two devices at once. However, Multipoint is not enabled by default. To enable Dual-device connection, open the 1More Music app’s settings by tapping on the 1More logo and selecting Experimental features. you can read our article on 1More Evo review.
1More Evo review: Noise cancelling
Although 1More worked hard to make the Evo a powerful noise neutralizer, the results fall short of what one might anticipate from wireless earbuds with four ANC modes. WNR (Wind Resistance) is the best choice from the group and significantly lessens the whooshing effects brought on by strong winds. Additionally, it excels at reducing incidental noises, which is something that most wind-resistant modes struggle with. Strong does a good job of reducing low- and mid-frequency sounds. We were able to tune out the sounds from the washing room and the family talks going on around our desk. Everything else, particularly high-frequency sounds like baby screams and whistles, could be heard. Although Mild is allegedly intended for use in offices, it performed poorly everywhere. The chatter outside our bathroom door, as well as other typical household distractions like doorbells and home appliances, were audible to us. To choose the most effective ANC mode, adaptive looks at the ambient noise levels. Our tests revealed that Strong appeared to be the mode’s default because the performance was very similar. There are two settings for transparent mode, which works better than ANC. Traffic noise is lessened through pass-through, and spoken volume is raised by voice enhancement. Both improved our awareness of our surroundings while taking our toddler for strolls. Pass-through proved to be most helpful when navigating streets and toll bridges, while Voice developed into a favourite for speaking with the wife while at the office.
Audio performance
The Colorbuds 2 we examined earlier in 2022 and the 1More Evo are comparable. Both have a cleaner approach to the high frequency range and a clear, detailed soundstage, but the Evo go further than the Colorbuds 2 due to their more dynamic performance and greater bass. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise because the 10mm dynamic and armature driver is larger and more powerful than the 7mm dynamic setup used in the Colorbuds 2. When listening to Billie Eilish’s music, the bass has a better profile, is more detectable right away, and is punchily characterized without any audible distortion when the song digs into its more intense beats. The bass performance of the Colorbuds 2 is weaker in comparison, even when the volume is turned up; it is strong and diverse and gives more impact. Additionally, it is far more refined than the 1More True Wireless ANC, whose ANC mode’s bass performance was extremely harsh and clunky. The Evo is a touch weaker than the rest of 1More’s current output when played at standard volume. Increase the volume to create a wider soundstage and more energetic music. When played on the 1More, Tom Morello’s Voodoo Child is a large, loud, and powerful track. In a track like Nick Mulvey’s Nitrous, there is good balance and timing throughout the frequency range; the bass of the song’s percussive elements is measured, the midrange is fed with lots of detail to bring out the guitar’s strings well, and Mulvey’s voice and the background vocals are clearly relayed. The 1More Evo has a generally neutral tone that is maintained throughout a range of musical genres, from rap to pop and orchestral songs, and it adopts a controlled and mature attitude. The Evo’s consistently impress thanks to their wide soundstage and stereo image, which give tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s United in Grief a sense of good depth.
1More Evo review: Call performance
The 1More Evo normally makes quality calls. There is excellent noise suppression while in noisy environments, so your callers won’t hear the sound of traffic as you wander the streets. But in situations like these, 1More’s algorithms truly struggle to keep your sound clear and uncompressed. We advise you to seek out quieter areas; your callers will appreciate it. There isn’t a side tone for calls, but just like with previous 1More earbuds, if you activate transparency mode before placing or receiving a call, it will remain active while the call is in progress, which essentially accomplishes the same thing. Unfortunately, you cannot switch it on or off while on a call.
Battery and charging
Battery life, according to 1More, is 5.5 hours with ANC turned on and 8 hours without. That is true while using AAC/SBC as your preferred codec and listening at 50% volume. Playtimes are reduced by LDAC by about 1.5 hours. Longer ANC playtimes are available from competitors like the LinkBuds S (6 hours) and CX plus (8 hours), but what the Evo offers is still regarded as standard. Furthermore, it goes beyond what the AirPods Pro will offer. Depending on how you use the buds, the wireless charging case can power them for 20 to 28 hours. If you plan to use ANC and LDAC constantly, you’ll need to charge it fairly frequently. Fast charging technology from 1More, which provides 4 hours of listening time from a 15-minute charge, should allay your low battery anxiety. also you can check our article on 1More Evo review.
Price and availabilty
For $169 (£159), you can select between two colorways: black or white. This puts them directly in competition with products like Apple’s AirPods 3 and Soundcore’s Liberty 3 Pro, but for reasons you’ll see in a moment, we’re going to contrast these with the frequently on sale AirPods Pro.
Conclusion
Perhaps you are unaware of 1More, but it is making every effort to ensure that you are through the use of several earbuds. The firm tends to release new pairs every three months, and the Evo has a design and function package that might catch the attention of onlookers. Although they are less expensive than the high-end pairs from brands like Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, and Samsung, 1More is going after them as an underdog to provide a sound experience that is truly worth your money. You can’t help but notice the Evo’s appearance and texture. They have a stylish quality about them that belies their mid-range status, from the matte aluminum alloy finish on the case to the ceramic covers on the earbuds themselves. When you take them out of the box and look at the earbuds themselves, it is immediately clear.
