Any links to online stores should be assumed to be affiliates. The company or PR agency provides all or most review samples. They have no control over my content, and I provide my honest opinion.
I have never heard of Coumi before, but they are one of the many affordable audio brands you will find on Amazon. They have recently launched one of the most affordable ANC earphones ever with the ANC-860 joining the dozens of other companies that have started launched ANC true wireless earphones this year.
Specification
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Earbuds, Coumi ANC-860 Bluetooth Headphones with... |
£15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Active Noise-cancelling, Maximum 28 dB reduction
- Transparent Mode
- Dual-mic Noise Cancelling for Crystal-Clear Calls
- IPX7 Waterproof & Customizable Eartips in 3 Size
- Bluetooth 5.0 & Touch Control
- 12.5mm Large-Aperture Speaker Drivers
- Type-C Charging Case
- 30h use total with ANC on / 41h total use with ANC off
- 5.5 hours (ANC ON) / 7.5 hours (ANC OFF)
Design
At first glance, these look similar to the Sony WF-1000XM3 earphones, looking a bit like a Bluetooth phone earpiece of yesteryear.
However, these are a bit different, the earpiece itself is shaped more like the open fit design of the Apple AirPods, you then place rubber eartips over this to create a close seal fit.
The earpiece itself is quite large, so a lot of the electronics are sitting outside you ear (which sometimes effects fit).
Set up & Fit
There is no app, so you just pair up like a normal pair of earphones. The ANC is controlled via the touch buttons on the side. A double-tap on the left ear will change the status.
I am not particularly a fan of touch controls, but the vast majority of earphones use them now, so it is what it is.
Fit is OK, with the slightly unusual design, it didn’t feel like they would fit very well, but with the larger eartips, I have had no major issues. I have been fine walking around with them, but I am not sure I would trust them for running.
The eartips provide my decent sound isolation which will help with the sound quality and ANC.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is reasonably good, possibly better than I would expect for a £40 pair of earbuds.
These are very much bass dominant, which I am fine with, at this price you aren’t getting reference quality and I would prefer more bass than no bass.
Assuming you like bass, it is rich and deep with few or no times where I noticed distortion at moderate volumes.
Quality declines as you move up the frequencies, for a start, the bass itself tends to drown out the mids and highs in bass dominant tracks. But then when you get a track that is more mid focussed things start to sound a little harsh with an overall lack of balance.
Overall, I am quite happy with the sound though; they sound better than most of the other sub £60 earphones I have reviewed recently.
Active Noise Cancellation Performance
My main test for ANC recently has been listening to airplane cabin noise on YouTube, I haven’t been on a plane in almost a year now, and this gives me a decent constant between reviews. Cabin noise is also personally where I want ANC the most and has a mixture of frequencies that allow me to test the ANC thoroughly.
Qualcomm launched their QCC5100 range of chipsets back in 2018 offering multiple options at different price points and performance; this is likely why were are seeing so many new earphones launch with ANC now.
These almost certainly use one of the lowest models within the range, and the ANC performance is about as good as you would expect, which is not amazing.
Coumi claims a 28dB noise reduction, which is a bit more realistic than the 35dB the TaoTronics SounderLiberty 94 claim which I reviewed recently.
Performance is actually better than the TaoTronics too; there is a noticeable drop off with the low-end frequencies in the cabin noise leaving the mid and high-end hum almost untouched.
While not particularly amazing, it does take the edge off and should help clear up audio if you are trying to watch TV/Movies while commuting.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for; these are easily the cheapest ANC earphones I have used, so have no hope of competing with the likes of the Huawei Freebuds Pro.
Battery Life
Battery life has been good enough, I am not sure it quite meets the claimed numbers but I never noticed them dying earlier than I would expect.
Price and Alternative Options
At £40, I have not reviewed anything that can compete with these. The TaoTronics SounderLiberty 94 cost more and are just not as good.
The Mpow X3 is well-reviewed and a similar price, they claim a similar noise reduction and the Mpow earphones I have used int eh past have been some of the best I have used.
Overall
For the price, these are surprisingly good earphones. I’d be reasonably happy with these at this price without ANC, so for them to offer a decent pair of earbuds and ANC for £40 is quite impressive.
They are not perfect though, ANC is bordering on poor, but comparable to many other affordable ANC earphones I have used.
Again, for the price, sound quality is decent, but don’t think that these could ever compete with more premium earphones. These are bass dominant which can drown out the mids and high, in tracks that lack bass I found that the mids and highs could be a little sharp.
However, these are far superior to the TaoTronics TT-BH094 I reviewed recently which are £55.
Over the years, I have come to appreciate the benefits of investing in a more expensive pair of earphones. Accurately representing the different frequencies and finding a balance between them is important, cheaper options struggle to do this, and as a consequence I often will find music a little grating to listen to for long periods of time, sometimes causing me tinnitus too. So for me, I wouldn’t personally buy them, but I am fortunate enough to have access to plenty of £100+ earphones.
For people on a budget or are less particular about the sound these are easily worth the money, and punch well above their weight. The IPX7 rating would also make them an ideal option for using will exercising.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Wireless Earbuds, Coumi ANC-860 Bluetooth Headphones with... |
£15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Coumi ANC-860 Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds Review Rating
Summary
For people on a budget or are less particular about the sound these are easily worth the money, and punch well above their weight. The IPX7 rating would also make them an ideal option for using will exercising.
Overall
75%-
Overall - 75%75%
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
