Edifier’s latest budget headphones feature song lyrics displayed on the earcups, and I'm perplexed.
The Edifier Auro Ace combines gamer aesthetics with surprisingly good specifications
Most affordable headphones these days tend to look alarmingly alike, featuring the same conservative designs, recycled "deep bass" promotions, and similar feature lists. This is why Edifier's newly released Auro Ace stands out, showcasing an animated dot-matrix display integrated into the earcups along with a design that clearly values style as much as sound quality.
Edifier’s Auro Ace headphones feature lyrics displayed directly on the earcups
The standout feature of the Auro Ace is its customizable dot-matrix display, capable of showing synchronized song lyrics, animations, custom text, and pixel-style graphics right on the headphones. Users can modify these effects using Edifier’s companion app.
In addition to the eye-catching visuals, the headphones come with quite respectable specifications for their price point. The Auro Ace includes 32mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 6.0, dual-device connectivity, USB audio support, and AI-powered call noise reduction. Edifier asserts that these headphones can provide up to 62 hours of battery life when the display is turned off, while a 15-minute charge offers around 11 hours of playback.
With a price tag of 279 yuan in China, approximately $40, these headphones comfortably fit within the budget audio market.
I'm still trying to grasp who the lyric display is aimed at
To be honest, the entire lyric-syncing feature seems a bit puzzling to me. If I'm the one enjoying the music, why would I want the lyrics illuminated on the outside of my headphones for everyone around me to see except myself? It feels more like a feature created for random strangers on the metro rather than for the listener.
On the other hand, that appears to be exactly what Edifier intends. The company has incorporated various built-in visual themes and customization options tailored to different outfits, moods, or aesthetics, positioning the Auro Ace more as a fashion accessory rather than just another budget headphone option.
And honestly? Perhaps that’s not a bad approach. Budget audio products have become remarkably monotonous lately, with brands consistently recycling the same ANC and bass-heavy marketing jargon while the actual hardware often looks nearly identical. At least the Auro Ace exudes some character. A quirky character, sure, but character nonetheless.
Other articles
Edifier’s latest budget headphones feature song lyrics displayed on the earcups, and I'm perplexed.
Edifier has introduced the Auro Ace budget headphones, featuring a customizable dot-matrix display capable of displaying synchronized lyrics and animations in real time.
