Edifier NeoBuds Pro and Edifier NeoBuds S were officially unveiled at the 25th anniversary of Edifier and are currently the flagship TWS earbuds of Edifier. Using the same exterior design, different audio solutions. Previously, we made a detailed teardown report on the two products, and this time, based on the teardown report, we will share with you their specific differences.
EDIFIER NeoBuds Pro review ($95) | Edifier NeoBuds S review ($130)
01/ Audio Technology
Edifier NeoBuds Pro earphones support LHDC and LDAC (OTA upgrade) high-definition audio technology. Edifier NeoBuds S earphones support Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound.
LHDC is a high-quality bluetooth codec developed under the A2DP bluetooth protocol. It can support the transmission of 24bit/96KHz high-resolution audio, and the maximum data transmission rate can reach 900Kbps, which is nearly 3 times that of the conventional SBC encoder. Dramatically reduces audio quality differences between wireless and wired audio devices. At the same time, LHDC is also the second Hi-Res Audio Wireless bluetooth high-quality standard solution certified by the Japan Music Association after LDAC.
LDAC is a certified codec of “Hi-Res Audio Wireless”, proposed by Sony, which can allow up to 990kbps bit rate, 24bit/96kHz high-resolution audio content bluetooth transmission. The high transmission bit rate enables high-resolution audio files to be compressed to a minimum, ensuring sound quality.
The Snapdragon Sound technology platform integrates Qualcomm’s best audio and connectivity technologies and mobile innovations. In terms of wireless bluetooth transmission, it supports aptX Adaptive audio technology, and can perform dynamic code rate adjustment according to application scenarios. Taking into account stable connection, high-definition sound quality and ultra-low latency, it can provide high-quality music with a sampling rate of up to 24bit/96kHz.
In addition, Snapdragon Sound audio and voice technology also supports Qualcomm TrueWireless Mirroring connection technology, adaptive ANC technology, aptX Voice ultra-wideband voice technology, and Qualcomm audio and voice communication suite.
02/ Product Appearance
Package
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro and Edifier NeoBuds S are both packaged in gift boxes, with a silver-gray background that sparkles under the lights. The overall appearance design, brand LOGO and product name of earphones are displayed on the box.
The difference is that Edifier NeoBuds Pro supports LHDC and LDAC high-definition audio codec, and there is a Hi-Res certification mark on the box. Edifier NeoBuds S support Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound technology, corresponding to the Snapdragon Sound certification mark.
Appearance
Edifier NeoBuds Pro and Edifier NeoBuds S use the same exterior design. But the former is available in both white and black versions, and the latter is only available in black, which can be quickly distinguished by color.
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro and NeoBuds S charging case adopts a symmetrical design, which enriches the layering of the product through different materials. Similar to the “supercar taillight” indicator design, with gradient breathing light effect, the on/off cover is like a sports car on/off. The handle-shaped in-ear earphones continue the three-dimensional design of the NB series, and the edges and corners adopt arc transitions, making the look softer.
Charging Case Interface
The charging case of both uses the USB Type-C interface, which has a wide range of compatibility and can be shared with mobile phone charging cables. Neither product supports wireless charging.
Weight
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro and NeoBuds S are almost the same in terms of weight, excluding the possible impact of test errors. The overall weight of the Edifier NeoBuds Pro is about 57.7g, and the weight of a single earphone is about 5.5g. The overall weight of the Edifier NeoBuds S is about 58.8g, and the weight of a single earphone is about 5.6g.
03/ Earphones
Bluetooth Audio SoC
The biggest difference between the Edifier NeoBuds Pro and NeoBuds S is the use of different bluetooth audio solutions.
Edifier NeoBuds Pro is equipped with BES BES2300YP bluetooth audio SoC and integrates an adaptive ANC solution. Supports Bluetooth 5.0, IBRT bluetooth monitoring technology and dual-mode Bluetooth 4.2. Support third-generation FWS full wireless stereo technology, dual microphones, etc. Using 28nm HKMG CMOS process, BGA package.
BES2300 supports high-performance adaptive ANC technology, which allows high-end ANC headphones to use a fully integrated chip to achieve high sound quality and active noise cancellation. It also supports external sensor devices such as external heart rate sensors and acceleration sensors. The BES2300 can output sound to headphones and home speakers, and can also record from an external microphone.
Edifier NeoBuds S uses Qualcomm QCC5151 bluetooth audio SoC, which is an ultra-low power single-chip solution. It adopts WLCSP package and has a smaller size. It supports Bluetooth 5.2, with programmable DSP, optimized for true wireless earphones and hearing devices, and supports the new generation of bluetooth audio technology standard LE Audio.
The Qualcomm QCC5151 supports Snapdragon Sound technology, combining high-performance audio with low power consumption. Support 24bit/96KHz high-resolution audio, Qualcomm aptX audio encoding, including aptX Adaptive technology. Support aptX Voice to optimize call voice and the eighth-generation Qualcomm cVc echo cancellation and noise suppression technology. Integrated Qualcomm Adaptive ANC, including feedforward, feedback, hybrid and adaptive, supports third-party innovation through Qualcomm extensions.
Earbuds Battery
Edifier NeoBuds Pro and NeoBuds S earphones are equipped with MIC-POWER steel shell button batteries. The former built-in battery model: M105452, voltage: 3.7V, capacity: 0.148Wh/40mAh. The latter has a built-in battery model: M1154S3, voltage: 3.85V, capacity: 0.212Wh.
Lithium Battery Protection IC
Edifier NeoBuds Pro uses Winsemi WSDF13A2N2N lithium battery protection IC, which is a highly integrated solution for single-cell lithium-ion/lithium-polymer rechargeable battery pack protection. It has all the protection functions required by batteries such as overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, and short circuit, and the power consumption is extremely low during operation. In a very small DFN1x1-4 package, it is suitable for rechargeable battery packs where space is limited.
Edifier NeoBuds S earphones use a silk-screened “1h AF” lithium battery protection IC.
Charging IC
In terms of chips for charging earphones, Edifier NeoBuds Pro earphones use YONGFUKANG CS5601 lithium battery charging management IC. Details of the Edifier NeoBuds S could not be obtained.
CS5601 is a highly integrated single-cell lithium battery charging chip for charging the earphone’s built-in battery. Support over-voltage protection, under-voltage protection, power overload protection, short-circuit protection and output short-circuit protection, chip constant temperature self-adjusting charging protection. Battery charging goes through three stages: trickle charging, constant current charging, and constant voltage charging. By setting the resistance values of the IREF and IMIN pins to ground, it is easy to program constant current and trickle current (or cut-off charging current), suitable for USB (100mA current limit) or DC power supply.
Acceleration Sensor
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro and NeoBuds S both use a silk-screened QR code acceleration sensor for the tap control function.
Microphones
Edifier NeoBuds Pro and NeoBuds S are equipped with three MEMS microphone units. It includes the feedforward noise cancellation microphone and the call microphone on the motherboard in the headset stem, and the feedback noise cancellation microphone in the front cavity sound tube, which is used for hybrid ANC and call noise cancellation functions.
Speakers
Edifier NeoBuds Pro and NeoBuds S earphones are equipped with 10mm dynamic+Knowles armature units inside. The dynamic driver is applied to the mid and low frequency bands to provide more natural and fuller low frequency sound. The armature driver is applied in the mid and high frequency bands to provide earphones with rich sound details. Through the combination of dynamic+armature driver and active electronic frequency crossover technology, it provides a pure sense of hearing with three-band equalization.
04/ Charging Case
Battery
In terms of built-in lithium batteries in the charging case, both Edifier NeoBuds Pro and Edifier NeoBuds S use CEL13300 cylindrical soft pack batteries. Rated capacity: 500mAh/1.85Wh, rated voltage: 3.7V, limited charging voltage: 4.2V.
Charging IC
Edifier NeoBuds Pro adopts CS5256E lithium battery charging management IC, which is a 5V input, and supports single-cell lithium battery or lithium-ion polymer battery. CS5256E integrates power MOS and adopts synchronous switching architecture. The converter has a charging current capability of 2A, the charging current can be flexibly adjusted through an external resistor, and the charging efficiency can reach 90%. It also has perfect protection function.
Edifier NeoBuds S adopts TPS SY8801 TWS charging case SOC. It supports 28V input withstand voltage, built-in full-function charging and discharging overvoltage, overcurrent, overtemperature, short circuit protection and other functions, and also integrates I²C communication function and internal communication isolation function. Through the I2C interface, the MCU of the system can read and configure the internal functions of the power supply and the parameters of battery charge and discharge management. Easily realize functions such as NTC protection, segment adjustment of battery current, TWS earbuds into the charging compartment, out of the charging compartment detection, power output automatic opening and so on.
Boost IC
Edifier NeoBuds Pro charging case uses LPS LP6261, a 1uA low-power boost chip. Edifier NeoBuds S is managed by TPS SY8801 TWS charging case SOC single chip.
The switch pin of LPS LP6261 adopts a high-voltage 9V process, which can effectively absorb the high-voltage peak of the production capacity when the earphone is plugged and unplugged. At the same time, there is no whistling sound within the full load capacity (especially at light load). LP6261 adopts SOT23-6 package, 1.7uA ultra-low power boost (when 5V is normally open), and only needs 3 peripherals (1pcs of inductor and input and output capacitors). Shutdown current <0.1uA, built-in EN completely shut down, built-in short circuit protection.
MCU
Edifier NeoBuds Pro and Edifier NeoBuds S MCU both use SinhMicro SS881A chip. SinhMicro POWR MCU SS881X series has rich interface functions and flexible configuration modes, supports different low power consumption options, can flexibly configure the battery charging voltage and current through software, and also has built-in perfect protection functions.
SinhMicro SS881X input supports 14V withstand voltage, high voltage version supports 40V withstand voltage, supports multiple reset methods, built-in 8-channel 12-bit ADC for current and voltage acquisition. Built-in capacitive touch button sensor, support I²C and UART interface, integrated programming/debugging interface, support whole machine upgrade. Built-in four-way PWM signal output, can be used for breathing light drive.
Input Overvoltage Protection IC
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro and Edifier NeoBuds S are equipped with a Wayon WP1430 overvoltage protection IC at the Type-C input port. Automatically disconnect the system from its output pin (OUT) when a false input operating condition is detected. The WP1430 has positive overvoltage protection up to 36V. The internal overvoltage threshold (OVLO) is 6.1V and the overcurrent threshold (OCP) is 2.5A. There is also an internal over-temperature protection (OTP) feature that monitors the chip temperature to protect the device.
05/ Conclusion
Edifier NeoBuds Pro and Edifier NeoBuds S have great brand features in appearance design, and the use of different materials effectively enriches the layering of the products. The handle-shaped in-ear earphones are designed with sharp edges and corners, full of three-dimensional feeling, and have a high degree of recognition. The two products have different colors, which can be quickly distinguished.
In terms of internal configuration, the main difference is that the Edifier NeoBuds Pro main control chip adopts BES BES2300YP, and the Edifier NeoBuds S is equipped with Qualcomm QCC5151. Although the solutions are different, they all provide stable connections and high-definition wireless audio transmission. In other respects, the Edifier NeoBuds S earbuds have an increased built-in battery capacity and use a high-voltage battery to bring longer-lasting battery life. The battery charging and discharging management scheme adopted by the charging case has been replaced.
Source: 52audio
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