OneOdio Focus A6 – The perfect sub-$100 ANC headphones?

Disclosure: OneOdio provided these for review, but they are not sponsoring this review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

In the sub-$100 category for wireless headphones, finding well built headphones that also provide good sound, and good active noise cancellation (ANC) has always been a challenge. The OneOdio Focus A6 headphones, priced at just $70, aim to deliver not only that, but also by offering premium features typically found in headphones costing several times more. After extensive testing and comparison with the industry-leading Sony WH-1000XM5, we explore whether these budget-friendly headphones deliver genuine value or simply compromise too much to reach their attractive price point.

Build Quality and Design

The OneOdio Focus presents a surprisingly solid build for its price category. The headphones feature a metal headband construction for strength but still manages to remain lightweight at only 240 grams. The ear cups showcase an attractive mirrored CD finish that gives the headphones a distinctive appearance, setting them apart from more conservative designs in the market.

Comfort is a crucial factor for extended listening sessions, and the A6 performs admirably in this regard. The ear pads utilize soft PU leather with adequate padding, providing comfortable wear for hours at a time. The headphones accommodate glasses wearers without causing pressure points, making them accessible to a broader user base. However, it’s worth noting that the ear cup size is slightly smaller than some competing models, which may cause ears to run warmer during extended use.

The only chink in the armour of the build quality of these headphones is the yoke on the headband as their plastic build feels somewhat cheap and plasticky compared to the otherwise solid construction. It doesn’t impact functionality, but I’d be careful when using them.

What’s in the Box

One area where the budget nature of the OneOdio Focus A6 becomes apparent is the included accessories. Unlike premium headphones that typically include carrying cases, multiple cables, and adapters, the OneOdio A6 comes with only a USB-C charging cable. Notably absent are a carrying case or even a simple protective pouch, which would have been a welcome addition for users who travel frequently. The headphones also lack a traditional 3.5mm audio jack, though they do support audio playback through the USB-C connection.

Battery Performance

One area where the OneOdio Focus A6 surprisingly excels is in battery performance, beating not only similarly priced headphones but also those significantly more expensive than it. With ANC disabled, the headphones provide an impressive 75 hours of playback time, dropping to 40 hours with ANC enabled. That’s impressive and essential for those that want to use these headphones for longhaul travel and not have to worry about them running out of power.

Fast charging capabilities further enhance the battery experience, with a 10-minute charge providing 10 hours of playback time. This rapid charging means that even when they do run out of power you’ll be up and running again before you know it.

Active Noise Cancellation

The ANC on the OneOdio Focus A6 stands as one of the best available in the sub-$100 category. The mobile application provides five different settings: standard ANC, transparency mode, off, and two wind resistance modes for both ANC and transparency. While the wind resistance modes showed minimal noticeable difference in testing, the core ANC functionality effectively blocks low-frequency noise and provides reasonable high-frequency attenuation.

However, the ANC system does introduce a subtle background hiss when activated. This is common with all ANC headphones though and isn’t just a trait of the A6’s. However, it is more noticeable on these than on more premium alternatives. It’s not something that you notice when listening to music though.

Audio Quality and Customization

Out of the box, the A6 delivers compete sound quality, though it tends toward an overly bright treble response with insufficient bass presence. Fortunately, the accompanying mobile application includes a seven-band custom equalizer that allows users to tailor the sound signature to their preferences. The ability to adjust the treble down and boost the bass significantly improves the sound quality.

While the A6 cannot match the sound quality of more premium alternatives, it does provide remarkably good audio quality for its price point. Bass comes through clean with a clear treble, and whilst there is some compression around the mids, again, for the price, it’s remarkably good sound. The icing on the cake for these headphones is that they also support listening to high-resolution audio either wirelessly or over the provided USB-C cable. And when listening over the cable, ANC still works too. That’s a feature that even plenty of more expensive headphones don’t have.

Connectivity and Features

The OneOdio Focus A6 offers several connectivity features typically associated with more expensive headphones. Multi-point connectivity allows simultaneous connection to two devices, facilitating seamless switching between phone calls and computer audio. A dedicated game mode reduces latency to 65 milliseconds, making the headphones suitable for gaming applications.

The USB-C port serves dual purposes, functioning as both a charging port and audio input. Importantly, ANC remains functional when using wired USB-C audio, a feature often omitted even in more expensive models.

Microphone Performance

If you want to use these headphones for taking a phone call, then the built-in microphones provide adequate call quality in quiet environments, ensuring that your voice is clear and wekk heard. In more noisy environments it does struggle although it does a fairly good job of removing most background noise and still ensures that your voice can at least be clearly heard above it.

Features – Some misses, and a surprise inclusion!

As expected at this price point, the OneOdio Focus A6 lacks several convenience features found in more premium alternatives. There is no wear detection to automatically pause music when the headphones are removed, nor any EQ sound personalisation tests or touch sensitive controls. Although that last one is more personal preference and plenty of people actually prefer physical buttons over touch controls. Incidently the physical controls are well placed and easy to operate.

They do however include an auto power-off feature to help prevent battery drain. As someone who always forgets to turn their headphones off after using them that’s a welcome inclusion.Final VerdictThe OneOdio Focus A6 represents exceptional value for users seeking quality ANC headphones without premium pricing. At $70, they deliver competent noise cancellation, excellent battery life, comfortable wear, and customizable sound quality. While they cannot match the refinement and feature set of headphones costing five times more, they provide 80% of the functionality at 20% of the price.

Final Verdict

The OneOdio Focus A6 succeeds in its primary mission: providing good ANC and sound, with a comfortable fit, and an impressive battery life, in an affordable package. This makes them an excellent choice for budget-conscious consumers who refuse to compromise on essential performance characteristics without breaking the bank.

While they cannot match the refinement and feature set of headphones costing five times more, they provide 80% of the functionality at 20% of the price, and for many that’s the perfect mix. They’re available to buy for $70 and you can use code ‘TECHGEAR’ for 15% off if you buy direct from OneOdio too.