The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless are the next generation of the Shure AONIC 50 Wireless. They have an improved noise cancelling (ANC) performance and have a USB-DAC mode, so you can take advantage of a better bit depth and sample rate via wired USB. They also have added spatialization presets via their companion app, which can help create a more immersive audio experience, depending on your content.
Our Verdict
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are satisfactory for neutral sound. Out of the box, their default sound is pretty excited and isn't very neutral. They deliver intense boom while vocals and instruments are harsh in order to balance the extra bass. Luckily, if this isn't to your liking, you can finetune their sound using their companion software's parametric EQ and presets. There are even a couple of spatialization features for a more immersive audio experience. Wired USB lets you use their built-in DAC, so you can stream higher-quality audio than via Bluetooth.
- USB DAC mode available.
- Parametric EQ and presets available via companion app.
- Disappointing passive soundstage performance.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are good for commute and travel. These comfortable over-ears come with a carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go. They also have an adjustable noise cancelling system, although it struggles to block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines even on the strongest setting. With the ANC on, they last over 34 hours continuously, and you can even use them via wired USB or analog in a pinch.
- Comfortable, premium design.
- Long lasting continuous battery life.
- ANC struggles to reduce bass-range noise.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are over-ears and may not be the best choice for sports and fitness. While they have a wireless design, they can still fall off of your head with intense movement. They also lack an IP rating for water resistance, but that's to be expected based on their design. On the upside, they have a comfortable fit.
- Comfortable, premium design.
- Not the most stable for this use.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are decent for the office. These comfortable headphones have a long battery life, so you don't have to recharge them every day. They're also equipped with ANC, allowing you to easily block out chatty coworkers. They also support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously. Audio bleed is low, too, so you can crank up the audio to your favorite tunes without others hearing it.
- Comfortable, premium design.
- Decent ANC performance in common scenarios.
- Supports multi-device pairing.
- Long lasting continuous battery life.
- Mic has trouble separating speech from noise.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are Bluetooth-only headphones. They support aptX Adaptive, which helps lower latency. Audio lag is still high enough to cause some lip-sync mismatch, which can be a deal-breaker for competitive gaming. However, it may not be as big of a problem if you're only gaming casually.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are okay for wired gaming. If you're gaming via wired USB, you'll have full audio and mic compatibility, while if you're using the analog cable, you can only receive audio. Their excited sound can help sound effects like footsteps stand out in the mix, but dialogue and instruments sound harsh and piercing. On the upside, the headphones are comfortable and well-built.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are decent for phone calls. They have an integrated mic, and while it can capture your voice well so that you're clear and easy to understand, it has trouble separating speech from background noise. As a result, if you're taking a call from a noisy environment like a busy street, your voice can be drowned out. On the upside, the headphones have an ANC system to help block out a good amount of sound.
- Decent recording quality.
- Mic has trouble separating speech from noise.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 01, 2024: We've updated the following test groups after Test Bench 1.7: Noise Isolation - Full Range, Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios, and ANC Wind Handling. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Jul 30, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
- Updated Feb 01, 2024: The following test group has been updated following TB 1.6: Bluetooth Connection. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages to match these results.
- Updated Feb 01, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are the successor of the Shure AONIC 50 Wireless, and there have been a few updates to their design. Their noise cancelling system has improved and can block out more noise than their predecessor, although it still falls short of competitors like the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless or the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. Like the Focal Bathys Wireless, they also have a USB DAC mode, so if you're using them via USB, you can take advantage of streaming audio in higher bit depth and sample rate.
Check out our picks for the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best noise cancelling headphones.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have the edge over the Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless. While both headphones feel premium, the Sennheiser have a significantly longer continuous battery life with more effective ANC. Their companion app also offers a lot of customization features. However, the Shure have slightly better mic and they're also pretty comfortable.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless have the edge over the Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless. The Sony have ANC that does a better job of blocking out background noise. However, the Shure are more comfortable, are better built, and have a longer continuous battery life. They also have a USB DAC mode, which is handy if you're looking for an audiophile-oriented experience from your headphones.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless are better than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. The Shure are better built and have a longer continuous battery life. They also have a USB DAC mode, which allows you to stream higher-resolution audio via wired USB. If you're shopping for something cheaper, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are still worth checking out, especially as their noise isolation performance is superior.
The Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless are the next generation of the Shure AONIC 50 Wireless. While they nearly have the same look and feel as their predecessor, there have been a couple of large changes. The Gen 2 have a USB DAC mode, so if you're using the headphones via their USB cable, you can take advantage of a higher bit depth and sample rate. They also have a spatialization feature to help give you a more immersive audio experience and a longer continuous battery life. Their overall mic performance is better, too, and they support aptX Adaptive codec. Their carrying case is smaller, making it easier to take on the go. Their sound profile has been adjusted, too, though it's less neutral than their predecessor.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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