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Nura NuraLoop Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.4
Reviewed Jul 20, 2020 at 08:22 am
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 06, 2021 at 01:44 pm
Nura NuraLoop Wireless Picture
7.0
Mixed Usage
5.8
Neutral Sound
7.8
Commute/Travel
7.8
Sports/Fitness
6.9
Office
5.1
Wireless Gaming
6.7
Wired Gaming
7.0
Phone Calls

The Nura NuraLoop Wireless are Bluetooth in-ears that use an automatic custom EQ to help create the best possible sound profile for each listener. We tested them with their default, neutral sound profile that's somewhat well-balanced, though their uneven treble range causes some instruments to be veiled and lacking in brightness, while others may be piercing and painful. They feel very well-built and stable, but unfortunately, their large earbuds make it hard to get a comfortable fit. Their ANC works remarkably well, they last 16 hours off a single charge, and their unique magnetic connector allows you to use them wired, something that's very rare for wireless in-ears.

Our Verdict

7.0 Mixed Usage

The Nura Loop are decent headphones for mixed usage. Their default sound profile is versatile enough for most genres, though they sound fairly veiled and lacking in brightness. However, these headphones are designed for use with their personalized custom EQ, which is meant to create the best listening experience for each user. These headphones are a good travel companion thanks to their excellent ANC, good 16-hour battery life, and ability to be used wired, which can be helpful if you fly a lot.

Pros
  • Excellent ANC does a great job at blocking background noise.
  • Comes with unique proprietary audio cable for wired use.
  • Look and feel very well-built and premium.
  • Decently well-balanced default sound profile is versatile enough for most genres and content.
Cons
  • Not comfortable due to bulky earbuds.
  • Microphone makes your voice sound dull and unnatural.
  • Only includes a single proprietary charging cable.
5.8 Neutral Sound

The Nura NuraLoop are sub-par for neutral sound. While these headphones are designed for use with their automatic custom EQ that's specific for each user, we used them on their default, neutral setting. Their default sound profile is fairly well-balanced throughout the bass and mid ranges, but unfortunately, their uneven treble range causes some frequencies to sound very veiled and lacking in brightness, while others are bright and piercing. We also measure a wide mismatch between the L/R drivers, though we expect this is due to testing and doesn't reflect real-world usage.

Pros
  • Default sound profile has well-balanced and accurate bass and mid ranges.
Cons
  • Disappointing harmonic distortion performance.
  • Default sound profile has uneven treble range.
7.8 Commute/Travel

The Nura Loop are good headphones for commute and travel. They have an excellent ANC feature, which does a very good job of blocking the low rumble of bus and plane engines, as well as background chatter and AC sounds. They last nearly 16 hours off a single charge, which is good, and they come with a decent carrying pouch. Unfortunately, their large earbuds aren't the most comfortable, and it can be hard to get a proper fit and seal. While their proprietary magnetic connector allows you to use the supplied audio cable to plug them in with a wired connection, you also use this connector for charging, requiring you to use a proprietary charging cable, which can be a pain.

Pros
  • Excellent ANC does a great job at blocking background noise.
  • Leak almost no audio.
  • Look and feel very well-built and premium.
Cons
  • Not comfortable due to bulky earbuds.
  • Only includes a single proprietary charging cable.
7.8 Sports/Fitness

The Nura NuraLoop are a good choice for sports. They look and feel very premium and well-built and, provided you can achieve a good fit, feel very stable in the ear. Unfortunately, even though they don't enter the ear canal too deeply, they aren't the most comfortable due to their large earbuds. On the bright side, their 16-hour battery should easily last you through multiple workouts, and you can customize their touch-sensitive control scheme.

Pros
  • Excellent ANC does a great job at blocking background noise.
  • Look and feel very well-built and premium.
Cons
  • Not comfortable due to bulky earbuds.
6.9 Office

The Nura Loop are only alright for office use. They aren't very comfortable and will likely cause fatigue and discomfort during a full workday. On the bright side, they're good at keeping you concentrated at work as their ANC does a very good job of blocking out background chatter. They also leak very little audio, meaning you won't be a distraction to nearby coworkers.

Pros
  • Excellent ANC does a great job at blocking background noise.
  • Leak almost no audio.
  • Look and feel very well-built and premium.
Cons
  • Not comfortable due to bulky earbuds.
  • Only includes a single proprietary charging cable.
5.1 Wireless Gaming

The Nura Loop aren't recommended for wireless gaming as you can only connect wirelessly via Bluetooth. While you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC or mobile device, their high latency and poor microphone performance make them less than ideal.

6.7 Wired Gaming

The Nura Loop are okay for wired gaming. Their large earbuds make it hard to get a comfortable fit, and they'll likely cause fatigue during extended gaming marathons. Also, while their included audio cable allows you to plug them into the controller of your Xbox One or PS4, it only transfers audio, so you can't use the integrated microphone.

Pros
  • Comes with unique proprietary audio cable for wired use.
  • Look and feel very well-built and premium.
Cons
  • Not comfortable due to bulky earbuds.
  • No microphone support when used wired.
7.0 Phone Calls

The Nura Loop are only decent for phone calls. They do an excellent job of blocking out background noise, and they leak almost no audio, which is great if you often make phone calls in busy places. Unfortunately, their microphone isn't the best, and your voice sounds dull, unnatural, and is difficult to hear in noisy environments. You also can't use the microphone while using the headphones wired, which is a shame.

Pros
  • Excellent ANC does a great job at blocking background noise.
  • Leak almost no audio.
  • Comes with unique proprietary audio cable for wired use.
Cons
  • No microphone support when used wired.
  • Microphone makes your voice sound dull and unnatural.
  • 7.0 Mixed Usage
  • 5.8 Neutral Sound
  • 7.8 Commute/Travel
  • 7.8 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.9 Office
  • 5.1 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.7 Wired Gaming
  • 7.0 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jul 20, 2020: Review published.
  2. Updated Jul 15, 2020: Early access published.
  3. Updated May 21, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated May 21, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated May 21, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

Comparison picture

The Nura Loop are fairly unique wireless in-ears that offer an automatic EQ that customizes their sound profile to the listener. They also have a unique magnetic proprietary connector that supports charging and also works with an included audio cable for a wired connection. They're a much more portable option when compared to the Nura Nuraphone Wireless, though they don't sound quite as open and natural.

Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best in-ear headphones and earbuds, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.

Nura Nuraphone Wireless

The Nura NuraLoop Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Nura Nuraphone Wireless. The NuraLoop are much more portable thanks to their in-ear design, feel a lot more stable in the ear, and have a better-balanced default sound profile. They also come with an analog audio cable that connects to their proprietary charging port, and they have a significantly better ANC feature. On the other hand, the Nuraphone have a much better battery life and are more comfortable.

Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless

The Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless are much better Bluetooth in-ears than the Nura NuraLoop Wireless. The Apple are a lot more comfortable, have a slightly more accurate default sound profile, and have a much more portable truly wireless design. On the other hand, the Nura's app offers a unique automatic EQ that creates a personalized listening experience. The Nura also have better ANC that does an excellent job at blocking out background noise, and they last a lot longer off a single charge.

Jabra Elite Active 45e Wireless

The Nura NuraLoop Wireless are better wireless in-ears than the Jabra Elite Active 45e Wireless. The NuraLoop feel a bit more durable, have much more bass thanks to their closed-back design, leak less audio, and block significantly more noise thanks in part to their excellent ANC feature. They also long over twice as long off a single charge and offer a unique automatic EQ feature for a fully personalized listening experience. On the other hand, the Jabra are a bit more comfortable, don't require a proprietary charging cable, and have a sound profile that can be manually adjusted via a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app.

Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019

The Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019 are better wireless in-ears than the Nura NuraLoop Wireless. The Anker are a lot more comfortable, have easier-to-use physical buttons, a less veiled default sound profile, and last longer off a single charge. On the other hand, the NuraLoop have an excellent ANC feature, feel more durable, and have a unique automatic EQ that creates a personalized listening experience.

Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless

The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless and the Nura NuraLoop Wireless are two very different pairs of headphones, though the Sony perform better for most uses. The Sony are Bluetooth over-ears that are significantly more comfortable, have a better-balanced default sound profile, and have a much better ANC. On the other hand, the NuraLoop are Wireless in-ears that still have excellent ANC, and have a unique personalized custom EQ that automatically finetunes your headphone's sound profile.

Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless

The Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless are better Bluetooth in-ears than the Nura NuraLoop Wireless. The Sonys are more comfortable, have a more portable truly wireless design, and have a better-balanced default sound profile. On the other hand, the NuraLoop have a much better ANC feature, last a lot longer off a single charge, and have a unique personalized custom EQ that automatically finetunes your headphone's sound profile.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Nura Loop are sleek-looking wireless earbuds with a rubber cable connecting the L/R buds. They have a professional and well-polished design that looks premium, though the earbuds themselves are quite large. There's a small charging port in the middle of the cable that looks like an in-line remote.

6.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.06 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

The Nura Loop aren't very comfortable headphones. While their silicone tips are very shallow and don't enter the ear canal too deeply, it's difficult to find a comfortable and tight fit/seal as the earbuds themselves are quite large. Depending on the size and shape of your ear, you may get a voice prompt warning you of an incorrect fit, which is only resolved when you physically press the headphones into your ear.

6.0
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control Adjustable
Talk-Through
Adjustable
Additional Controls No

The Nura Loop's controls are only mediocre. While the controls are fairly easy to use, their touch-sensitive surface makes it very easy to issue commands by mistake. While the default button mapping doesn't give you media or phone control, you can reprogram all four buttons within the app to add them.

8.8
Design
Portability
L 1.5"
W 1.8"
H 1.8"
Volume 4.9 in³
Transmitter Required No

The Nura Loop are very portable headphones that can easily be tossed into most pockets or bags.

7.0
Design
Case
Type Soft case
L 3.3"
W 3.3"
H 0.7"
Volume 7.6 in³

The Nura Loop come with a decent soft case. It's made of a cloth material and should help protect the headphones from scratches and drops.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

The Nura Loop feel very well-built and durable. They're primarily made of silicone and plastic and feel very solid. They even come with five pieces of mesh covers for the earbuds which can be swapped out if they get clogged with ear wax. The weakest point is likely the cable, though it doesn't feel nearly as thin or as cheap as the cable on some cheaper headphones, like the Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019.

8.0
Design
Stability

The Nura Loop feel very stable, provided you can achieve a good seal. They don't move at all, even during more intense workouts and head movements.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • NuraLoop Wireless headphones
  • 3x tip sizes
  • 5x mesh covers
  • Proprietary analog audio cable
  • Proprietary USB charging cable
  • Soft carrying case

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
2.34 dB
Treble Amount
-4.06 dB

The Nura Loop's sound profile is somewhat well-balanced but lacks a lot of brightness and presence with higher frequencies.

Note: We had some issues with the right earbud not providing any bass response. Upon doing a factory reset, no sound was produced by the right earbud at all. After fully charging the earbuds, both sides worked fine and we were able to test them. These results were recorded after performing the factory reset. While the results show a mismatch between the two earbuds, we expect this to be due to our testing as it isn't noticeable while using the headphones. It's also worth noting that they were tested with the 'neutral' sound profile turned on and didn't use the personalized EQ setting.

9.9
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.02 dB

The Nura Loop are very consistent between various users and reseats. Therefore, everyone is likely to experience their sound profile similarly.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
8.1
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.63 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
1.72 dB
Mid-Bass
2.46 dB
High-Bass
3.88 dB

The bass accuracy is very good. Almost the entire range is flat and even, though one of our earbuds followed the target curve much more accurately while the other was a bit over-emphasized.

Note: We expect the mismatch between the drivers to come from our testing and doesn't accurately represent real-life usage. During actual usage, they provide a bit of extra bass that adds warmth and rumble without being overpowering.

7.2
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.67 dB
Low-Mid
3.85 dB
Mid-Mid
-3.58 dB
High-Mid
-0.27 dB

The Nura Loop's mid accuracy is decent. Similar to the bass range, while our test shows a mismatch between the two drivers, this isn't representative of real-world usage. With actual usage, the mid-range appears to be well-balanced and accurate, with vocals and instruments appearing present and detailed.

4.5
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
7.3 dB
Low-Treble
-1.33 dB
Mid-Treble
-7.3 dB
High-Treble
-8.07 dB

The Nura Loop's treble accuracy is bad. The entire range is quite uneven, with most of the mid-treble range being severely recessed, resulting in those frequencies sounding very dull and lispy. On the bright side, low-treble is fairly even, which helps instruments sound detailed and present without being painful and harsh.

6.4
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.22 dB
Dips
2.58 dB

The Nura Loop's peaks and dips performance is only mediocre. The most noticeable dip is the one in mid-treble, which is extra emphasized in comparison to the peak directly before it. This dip causes sounds in that range, like cymbals and voices, to sound very dull and lispy. There are also several peaks and dips in high-treble which may cause some frequencies to be piercing and others to be dull, though it's at a high enough frequency that it likely won't be audible to most people.

3.8
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.13
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
4.28
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
4.86
Weighted Phase Mismatch
100.11

The Nura Loop's imaging performance is bad. This is because our testing rig measured a large mismatch between the L/R drivers, though it's worth noting that this mismatch isn't noticeable during real-world usage. On the bright side, almost the entire group delay falls well below the audibility threshold, resulting in a transparent treble reproduction and very tight bass.

0.2
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
1.0
Acoustic Space Excitation
0

The Nura Loop's passive soundstage is very bad. This is expected from in-ears, as they bypass the pinna and don't interact with it. Pinna interaction is one of the big factors in giving the sense of a large and out-of-head soundstage; therefore, the soundstage of these headphones is perceived to be small and located inside your head as opposed to in front.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No

The Nura Loop have no virtual soundstage features.

5.3
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
1.928
WHD @ 100
0.610

The weighted harmonic distortion is poor. While there's some distortion present at both moderate and high volumes, especially in the treble range, it's likely only noticeable to more critical listeners and shouldn't be an issue for most people.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
100228
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 4.2
Codec
aptX, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Off
ANC
Maximum
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when these headphones are used at these settings.

Note: We tested these headphones with the 'neutral' sound profile, and not with the 'personalized' EQ.

Isolation
9.0
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-25.51 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-20.84 dB
Mid
-19.31 dB
Treble
-35.94 dB

The noise isolation performance is outstanding. They do a great job at reducing background noise across all ranges, helping to provide peace from the low rumble of bus engines to the high-pitched hum of AC units.

Note: These headphones only have a setting for "Talk-Through" or "ANC on"; therefore, the "ANC off" line on the chart refers to the headphones with 'Talk-Through' turned on. This doesn't affect the scores, however, as the results are calculated from the difference between 0dB and the 'ANC On' line, regardless of the measurements for 'ANC off'.

10
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
20.62 dB

The leakage performance is exceptional. They leak almost no noise, so people around you shouldn't hear what you're listening to at all.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes

The Nura Loop have an integrated microphone.

6.5
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
96.52 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
5.35 dB
HFE
3,466.89 Hz
Weighted THD
9.962
Gain
28.22 dB

The microphone's recording quality is only alright. Speech recorded sounds very dull, fairly unnatural, and a little distorted.

7.4
Microphone
Noise Handling
Speech + Pink Noise
Speech + Subway Noise
SpNR
23.19 dB

The microphone's noise handling is decent. While the person you're speaking to should have no problems hearing you in a quiet environment, your voice gets easily drowned out in louder situations.

Active Features
7.8
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
15.7 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
15.7 hrs
Charge Time
2.6 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Standby mode
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Yes
Charging Port Proprietary

The Nura NuraLoop's overall battery performance is very good. They last nearly 16 hours off a single charge, which is about what Nura advertises. Unfortunately, they take over 2.5 hours to charge, and they require a proprietary charging cable, which can be annoying if it becomes damaged or misplaced. Their standby mode is also quite aggressive, and they enter 'deep sleep' after around a minute of not detecting skin.

7.5
Active Features
App Support
App Name Nura App
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
Adjustable
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping Yes
Surround Support
No

The Nura NuraLoop's dedicated companion app is good. The app is required to use these headphones, as you need to create a hearing profile before you can use them. This hearing profile creates a custom EQ that's personalized to you and is meant to help create the best possible listening experience. Unfortunately, there are no manual EQ options other than to turn the custom EQ off and use a neutral sound profile. Other than that, the app also allows you to reprogram the four controls on the headphones. You can switch between ANC or Talk-Though, though, unfortunately, there's no option to turn both of those off.

Connectivity
6.6
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.0
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
98 ft
PC Latency (SBC)
231 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
292 ms
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
146 ms
Android Latency
62 ms

The Bluetooth connectivity options are alright. They don't support additional features like NFC, multi-device pairing, or aptX-LL for a low latency connection. Their PC latency is also quite high. They don't have much lag while watching YouTube videos on an Android device, though it's a bit worse on an iPhone. It's worth noting that different apps and devices tend to compensate for latency differently, so you may experience different results.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A

These headphones don't support a wireless connection other than Bluetooth.

9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 4.1 ft
Connection 1/8" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

The Nura Loop have a unique magnetic proprietary plug that allows them to be used wired, a rarity for Bluetooth in-ears. They also charge through the same magnetic port and only come with one charging cable, which may be an issue if it becomes damaged or lost.

Connectivity
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC/PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PC/PS4 Wired USB
No
PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones are only compatible with audio when you plug them into the controller of your PS4 or a PC. However, they're fully compatible wirelessly with a Bluetooth-enabled PC.

Connectivity
Xbox One Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No

The Nura NuraLoop are only compatible with audio when you plug them into the controller of your Xbox One.

0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock

These headphones don't have a base/dock.