Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones review

REVIEW – It has been a while since I reviewed high-end wireless headphones. I have reviewed headsets that are designed with the main purpose being geared towards using MS Teams or Zoom. It is nice to get back to headphones designed for the main purpose of listening to music. These Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones should provide me with much enjoyment as I listen to my favorite genre which is Contemporary Jazz. Let’s see!!.

What is it?

The Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones provide studio-quality sound with adjustable noise cancellation. The  Spatialized Audio takes your listening experience outside of your headphones to a whole new level by replicating the experience of listening through high-end speakers. These headphones feature up to 45 hours of battery life.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
• 1 x Premium zippered carrying case
• 1 x Analog audio cable (3.5mm)
• 1 x Detachable USB-C charging/communication/audio cable
• 1 x User Manual

Hardware specs

Model/Model: MH36458
Transducer Type: Dynamic, Neodymium magnet
Driver Size: 50 mm
Frequency Response: 20 to 22,000 Hz
Sensitivity: @ 1 kHz, 97.5 dB/mW
Impedance: @ 1 kHz, 39 Ω
Maximum Input Power: 100 mW
Battery Life: up to 45 hours
Weight: 334 g (11.8oz.)
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
Storage Temperature: -10°C to 30°C (14°F to 86°F)
Antenna Type: Internal Monopole
Gain: +2.60 dBi
Operating Frequency: 2402 MHz-2480 MHz
Modulation Type: FHSS
RF Output Power: +13.92 dBm ( EIRP)
Supported Codecs: aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Voice, SBC, AAC, LDAC

Design and features

• Premium, studio-quality sound through custom-engineered 50mm dynamic drivers. Developed from decades of professional experience made for critical listeners.
• Spatialized Audio technology uses a proprietary algorithm to enhance the depth of your listening experience by widening the sound stage without introducing unnatural artifacts. Available in three unique modes – Music, Cinema, or Podcast. Music mode replicates listening through high-end speakers in a room and maintains the original integrity of the track. Cinema mode enhances low-frequency response and clarity of speech for a movie theater experience. Podcast mode brings the voices of your favorite speakers close to your ears.
• New Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology blocks out distractions for a truly immersive and natural listening experience improved over the prior generation. Using microphones inside and outside of the earcup, the second-generation ANC allows you to control how much (or how little) of the outside world you hear. Featuring four selectable modes (Light, Moderate, Max, and MaxAware), the new MaxAware setting allows you to block unwanted noise while maintaining awareness of your surroundings – great for conversations on the go.
• Environment mode allows you to hear the outside world with the flip of a switch. Refine the ambiance settings via an adjustable slider in the ShurePlus™ PLAY app.
• Up to 45 hours of battery life with quick charge capabilities, more than doubling runtime from the prior generation. Fifteen minutes of charge provides 5 hours of use.
• Customizable EQ. Choose from multiple presets, or create your own using the free ShurePlus™ PLAY app. Saves directly to your headphones for a seamless audio experience across other apps and devices.
• Long-wearing comfort and durability in a patented design built to last. Folds flat in a new zippered carrying case designed for portability.
• Customizable fingertip controls provide quick access to answer calls, adjust volume, pause music, or access the default voice assistant with the push of a button. Assign your preferred features including Spatializer, EQ, or ANC settings directly on the headphones for advanced control.
• Premium communication with clear call quality through beamforming microphone technology and proprietary automatic gain control (AGC) settings. Utilizing 6 microphones, the precision-engineered system automatically adjusts settings to avoid surrounding noise, offering unmatched quality for video and phone calls. Hear and be heard clearly.
• Bluetooth® 5 wireless technology with a class 1 transmitter delivers enhanced stability with a range of up to 100 meters (320 feet)—pairs to phones, tablets, and laptops.
• Premium headphone amplifier and support for multiple codecs including Qualcomm® aptX™, aptX™ HD, aptX™ Adaptive, AAC, SBC, and Sony LDAC. Featuring Snapdragon Sound™ technology.
• High-resolution USB Streaming up to 32-bit/384 kHz for an unmatched wired listening experience. Connect to wired sources with included 3.5mm analog audio cable or USB-C digital input for charging and High-Resolution streaming audio.
• ShurePlus™ PLAY app allows you to customize your preferences and control parametric EQ, noise cancellation, Spatializer, and Environment Mode settings. Free to download for iOS and Android.

The Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are made of mostly plastic and other materials for earpads, etc. The headband is adjustable. All of the controls are on the outer edge of the case of the right earpiece, and the 1/8″ audio jack is on the right earpiece. It includes an adjustable headband and controls on one side and an adjustable boom mic on the other. These headphones can also use two different cables to access audio instead of using the wireless feature:

• USB-C:
  • Charge the headphones
  • Connect to digital audio
• 3.5 mm audio cable: Connect to an analog audio port

Performance

To start my listening experience with the Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones I installed the ShurePlus Play App. Here are some screenshots from the app:

ShurePlus PLAY Mobile Listening App:

From Shure: “The ShurePlus PLAY Mobile Listening App is a high-resolution music player with advanced EQ controls. Play uncompressed audio files with your iOS or Android mobile device using the music tab. Use built-in Shure EQ presets to customize the sound, or create your own EQ presets in the settings tab. Unlock environment mode and ANC features by connecting to Shure Wireless and True Wireless products in the device tab.”

Features:
Import and play multiple, high-resolution, and standard file types
Customize presets with the parametric graphic EQ
Adjust your volume with the full-screen fader
Create playlists and organize your music library by playlist, artist, album title, song title, genre, or composer
Quickly dial in your sound with EQ preset modes for a variety of listening situations.
AONIC 50 and PLAY app sound processing
AONIC 50, Gen 2 headphones use all of your PLAY app DSP settings, regardless of how you are connected to the audio source and even after you have closed the app. The DSP occurs on the headphones and the app provides the access to customize those hardware settings.

Examples of some modes in the app:

Environment mode: Environment mode allows you to hear the ambient noise around you.
Active noise cancellation: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) allows you to suppress some or all of the noise around you.

• Options: Light; Moderate; Max; MaxAware

Spatializer: The Spatializer uses digital processing to make it sound like you’re in a larger setting using a pair of loudspeakers.

• Options: None; Music; Cinema; Podcast

USB Audio Mode: AONIC 50, Gen 2 headphones have two different USB modes.

• Options: Communication – Standard; default mode; mic available

Hi-Res Listening: AONIC 50, Gen 2 headphones support the Hi-Res streaming playback of the supported audio file formats (WAV, FLAC, and others) over USB for the ultimate audiophile listening experience.
Notice: iOS USB playback requires a Camera Connection kit.

Let me start by saying that the noise-canceling for these Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Headphones works well. The overall audio including audio for phone calls is crystal clear. For music, it does a really nice job for mids and highs that have just the right presence to create an enjoyable listening experience without any fatigue. The lows are what I would describe as decent but for my taste, lacking in enough presence. Even when I use the Spatializer and set the EQ to Bass Boost, the lows just do not fulfill that solid and present low end that I look for to accentuate certain instruments especially when I am listening to Instrumental Jazz.  However, in terms of Movies, YouTube videos, and Podcasts, this is where I am pleasantly provoked. I have listened to a few music videos, and when a deeper and more present bass was not necessary, I was mesmerized by the fullness and richness of the overall sound.

The battery life is great and the Bluetooth connection remains solid. The headset fits comfortably and there is no fatigue when wearing it for a long time.

What I like

• It feels like a quality build
• Nice features
• Good noise canceling
• Very clear phone calls
• Nice companion app

What I’d change

• Needs more range and presence in the low-frequency (This is a personal taste issue)

Final thoughts

The Shure AONIC 50 GEN 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They have good adjustability and the sound reproduction is clear with no noticeable distortion. Audio for calls is great and this has been confirmed but the parties that I have called. The Bluetooth connection is solid and the battery lasts very long. For my listening preference, the low frequency is lacking a bit, and keep in mind that I mostly listen to Contemporary Jazz, R&B, and Easy Listening. Otherwise, I give these headphones a well done and two thumbs up!!

Price: $349
Where to buy: Shure website, Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Shure.