Raycon fitness earbuds true wireless is also known as the Raycon E45 and is a sports-oriented earbud. They have a comfortable, stable, and well-built design certified IPX7 for protection against water immersion. While they lack a companion app, they have three onboard EQ presets. This is especially nice since some users may find their heavily v-shaped default sound profile overly muddy and harsh. Their 10.4-hour continuous battery life should last through long workouts, and their carrying case holds roughly five additional charges.
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Unfortunately, we experienced some issues with our model, like a rattling sound in the left driver. They also really struggle to block out background noise, though some users may prefer this design as it allows you to hear your surroundings when outdoors. You’ve probably heard of Raycon earbuds from YouTube, as many of the streaming site’s biggest names have at one time or another endorsed them for their great sound and even better prices.
Raycon Wireless Earbuds Review 2022
While that’s obviously paid sponsorship on behalf of Raycon, you can’t help but wonder what they’re really like and, more importantly, if they’re worth buying over other true wireless earbuds from Sony, Samsung, LG, and Apple.
Also this: 5 Best Wireless Earbuds for Working Out
To put them to the test, we reached out to Raycon to get a pair – their high-end active noise canceling The Work Earbuds. At $149.99 (around £100, AU $200), these cost as much as a pair of Apple AirPods or Sony WF-SP800N but come with a few extra features that might, on paper, make them feel like the better deal.
The same could be said for many of Raycon’s other headphones and earbuds like the Raycon everyday models, The Performance earbuds, and The Fitness Earbuds. All of them seem like great deals when compared to similarly specced buds from the major players – and that’s what’s made many folks stop and take notice.
Let’s dive into the drawbacks and advantages of the earbuds – of which there are many – and then we’ll get into their pricing and specs, and close out with an overview of the company and how it got so popular.
What is Raycon?
Raycon is co-founded by Ray J, the American rapper turned reality TV star, alongside the other Ray, Ray Lee. The pair joined forces to create. a wireless headphone company that aims to undercut the major players in the tech industry with more affordable options – though it currently only sells them in the US.
See this: Top 5 Best Bluetooth Earbuds for Android
Raycon as an entity has been around since 2017 and rose in popularity thanks to its mix of celebrity endorsements and YouTube affiliates. That, coupled with its already low prices and even further discounts has really paved the way for its success amongst the bigger players.
On its website, users give Raycon’s earbuds glowing reviews en masse and we found that largely to hold true with our testing, though many don’t mention the downsides of the earbuds. Overall, Raycon is a trustable company that makes decent products – but, like every company, those products aren’t quite as perfect as they’re made out to be.
How are the Raycon Earbuds?
We didn’t lump them in with the earbuds because, well, they’re headphones, but we also got our hands on The Everyday Headphones to test out as well.
What the headphones promise is active noise cancellation in a pair of over-ear headphones with the same sound signature as the earbuds. Raycon says they’ll last about 22 hours with ANC turned off but less when you’ve got it turned on. They’re also relatively cheap for over-ear noise-canceling headphones at only $99 (around £70, AU$135).
Related: 5 Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $100
So what’s not to like? Mostly they deliver good sound, with surprisingly good stereo separation, but the sound spectrum definitely caters more to bass than anything else.
The noise cancellation itself isn’t all that powerful, especially when stacked against the leaders in the space like Bose or Sony, and it doesn’t support any of the better audio codecs – you’re stuck with SBC and AAC.
At their price, they’re seated nicely in the middle of the pack, but we wouldn’t recommend them over any of the best noise-canceling headphones from our guide.
Some more important features
Call Quality
The Raycon Fitness Earbuds are mediocre for phone calls. While your voice should still be understandable by whoever’s on the other end of the line, it sounds muffled and lacking in detail. The mic struggles to separate your voice, and speech can be drowned out by moderate ambient noise around you.
The buds also have a hard time blocking out ambient noise like engine rumbles or background speech, making it harder to hear your conversation.
Sound Quality
The Raycon Fitness Earbuds are mediocre for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a very v-shaped sound profile that delivers intense thump, punch, and boom while vocals and lead instruments are bright. However, due to the overemphasis on the bass and treble ranges, users may find they sound overly muddy and piercing.
Since they’re closed-back in-ears, their passive soundstage seems closed-off and as if the sound is coming from inside your head, rather than from speakers placed in the room around you. They have a couple of EQ presets that you can cycle through if you prefer a different sound, though.
Design and Comfort
Raycon wireless earbuds are designed with both style and comfort in mind. They have a sleek and compact design that fits comfortably in your ears. The earbuds come with different sizes of ear tips, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your ears. The ergonomic design ensures a secure and snug fit, making them suitable for long listening sessions or workouts without discomfort.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of Raycon wireless earbuds is their impressive battery life. The earbuds offer extended playtime, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music for hours without interruptions. With a single charge, you can get up to 6 hours of playtime, and the charging case provides an additional 24 hours of battery life. This means you can go days without needing to recharge the earbuds.
Additional Features
Apart from the essential features, Raycon wireless earbuds offer some additional functionalities. They are equipped with noise isolation technology, which helps to block out external noise and provide a more immersive listening experience. The earbuds are also sweat-resistant, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor activities. Furthermore, they come with a built-in microphone for hands-free calling.
Connections:
The reason you were likely drawn to the earbuds in the first place was that they seem like a great cheap alternative to the Apple AirPods or Google Pixel Buds – and if you’re only referring to everyday or Performance earbuds, you’d absolutely be right.
At just $79.99 (around £60, AU$100), the Raycon every day has great specs and an 8-hour battery life onboard. It also includes a wireless charging case that provides another 24 hours of use. They’re IPX6 water and splash-resistant, which makes them good for workouts, and users are typically wowed by their sound quality – which is pretty impressive for the price.
Read this: Best Wireless Earbuds for Running
Moving a step up to the Raycon Performance earbuds, you get a slightly better fit thanks to the built-in wing that hooks into your outer ear and a better overall battery life with the case. They’re a bit more expensive than the Raycon Everyday earbuds at $110 (around £80, AU$150) but they seem like a better option if you’ve had problems with earbuds falling out during a workout.
After The Performance Buds are Raycon’s new The Fitness true wireless earbuds that have an IPX7 rating that makes them better for working out at the gym. The earbuds come with a number of stabilizer fins that help them stay in your ears better than Raycon’s other models, but they are more expensive at $119.99.
Last up is the highest-end Raycon The Work earbuds. They are certainly the most expensive of Raycon’s earbud lineup, and therefore they really have to offer the most for their sticker price. To help justify the cost, these are the only earbuds to feature active noise cancellation and stems to really give you that AirPods-style look.
They come with memory foam ear tips – a nice bonus – and use six microphones to offer good call quality (hence the reference to work in their name).
The problem with the earbuds is that users sometimes report issues with connectivity – an issue we also had with our pair – and getting the fit just right. Having tested hundreds of earbuds over the years, Raycon’s The Work is some of the most finicky, even when you use the included foam tips that should conform nicely to your ear canal.
Audio performance is good, however, it requires a great fit to get that beefy bass response, something that’s tough to achieve when the buds don’t fit correctly. We’d recommend starting with the Performance earbuds and only stepping up to The Work if you absolutely need the active noise cancellation for your commute.
Otherwise, a good passive seal with the Performance buds will get you just as good of sound quality and we think you’ll like them more than the Google Pixel Buds.
Raycon Wireless Earbuds Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 10.4-hour continuous battery life.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Very stable fit.
- EQ presets are available.
- Very stable fit.
Cons:
- Bad passive soundstage.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
- Bad passive soundstage.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
- Mic struggles to separate voice from ambient sound.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Raycon wireless earbuds are a solid choice for anyone looking for high-quality wireless earbuds. They offer excellent sound quality, comfortable design, long battery life, and convenient features like touch controls and noise isolation. Although they lack active noise cancellation and have limited color options, the overall performance of these earbuds is impressive.
So if you’re in the market for wireless earbuds that deliver great sound and comfort at an affordable price, Raycon is definitely worth considering.
FAQs
Are Raycon wireless earbuds waterproof?
Raycon wireless earbuds are not fully waterproof but they are sweat-resistant, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor activities.
Can I use Raycon wireless earbuds with my Android device?
Yes, Raycon wireless earbuds are compatible with both Android and iOS devices that support Bluetooth connectivity.
How long does it take to fully charge the earbuds and the charging case?
It takes approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge the earbuds, and the charging case takes around 2 hours to charge.
Can I use only one earbud at a time?
Yes, you can use either the left or right earbud independently, allowing you to have a single earbud in use while keeping the other one charging.