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OneOdio A11 Review

Last updated: 3 years ago
7 min read
Editor
rating
2.8
OneOdio A11 on the ground

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OneOdio A11 are a decent set of Bluetooth headphones with an average performance in all categories.

At first glance, OneOdio A11 look decent for cheap headphones. They even have earcups with a chrome finish to make them look more premium.

However, close inspection reveals these aren’t built to last. Plastic construction and fragile-looking hinges don’t feel very reassuring.

Furthermore, the earpads sit on top of your ears, and since they’re a bit stiffer, they start hurting pretty soon.

Unfortunately, even the audio quality is uninspiring. The sound is way too boomy, and it lacks transparency and body.

The best thing about the OneOdio headphones is the microphone quality. It does a pretty good job of keeping your voice nice and clean.

If you’re on a strict budget of under $40, are the OneOdio A11 worth checking out? Read the more detailed review below.

  • Good battery life (23 hours & 11 minutes)
  • Microphone quality
  • Decent comfort (despite on-ear design)
  • Bass-bloated sound
  • Cheap-feeling build
  • Micro-USB charging port
Editor
rating
2.8
By HeadphonesAddict
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ratings
4.2
User Ratings: 7
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CONTENTS (show more)

    Sound

    Star Rating
    2.0 Adequate

    The sound signature is bass bloated, and the technical performance leaves a lot to be desired. Sadly, the A11 lack resolution, transparency, and detail.

    Check the OneOdio A11 sound test:

    OneOdio A11 Sound Quality Test – HeadphonesAddict

    Learn how to understand sound comparisons.

    The price is usually an indicator of quality, but sometimes a product can positively surprise you with crystal clear sound. Unfortunately, OneOdio A11 aren’t one of those products.

    Bass

    Low-end has a decent extension, but it doesn’t reach those rumbling frequencies due to questionable seal.

    The bass is also quite sloppy and uncontrolled. Drums in the “I Will Remember” song by Toto don’t feel impactful nor realistic. Instead, they’re somewhat muddy and lack detail.

    Simpler, more pop-oriented genres sound just fine. But as soon as the track becomes busier, headphones like to mush everything together.

    The presentation gets even worse when enabling bass-up EQ mode (by pressing a dedicated SuperEQ button). The powerful bass veils all the details, making it hard to listen to and enjoy music.

    OneOdio A11 SuperEQ measurement
    The SuperEQ button only adds more bass, making the sound even more bloated.

    Midrange

    Mid-range frequencies sound okay for the most part but lack transparency. There’s some sort of a veil that prevents vocals from truly coming to life.

    Also, a heavy peak at around 8-9kHz can make the sibilant words very harsh. It does depend on a track since some sound just fine, whereas the others come through quite piercing.

    Treble

    Higher frequencies are boosted and shimmery. Thankfully, they aren’t too harsh or piercing.

    Again, while they have the potential to sound good, it feels as if some kind of veil is holding them back. As a result, they seem a bit splashy and metallic sounding.

    The soundstage is pretty wide for a closed-back design. However, since headphones can’t produce many details, the sound instead feels distant and hollow.

    Imaging capabilities aren’t that great, as you can’t quite pinpoint from where the sound is coming.

    OneOdio A11 Frequency Response

    OneOdio A11 DefaultEQ measurement
    The frequency response is far too uneven, with some massive dips and peaks, and it shows.

    An overall tuning is much different than the one from the OneOdio A30 model. Also, the latter probably uses higher-quality drivers. Consequently, there’s a night and day difference in audio quality.

    One thing I’ve noticed is that when you stop playing audio, there’s an audible white noise present in the background. After a couple of seconds, the headphones go silent.

    This effect is especially annoying when you scroll through YouTube’s app, and videos start playing automatically but without sound.

    At that point, headphones think you’re watching a video, they activate, but you only hear white noise.

    Thankfully, you don’t hear it when listening to music.

    Comfort & Fit

    Star Rating
    3.0 Good

    On-ear fit mixed with rigid ear cups and somewhat stiff earpads isn’t the best combination for long listening sessions. At least they stay stable on your head.

    The headband and earpads are dressed in plasticky faux leather. Thankfully, it’s relatively soft, which helps with the on-ear feel (pads don’t enclose your entire ear). Similarly priced Samson SR850 are much worse in that regard.

    Earpads use standard foam that’s a bit too dense to offer good comfort, especially since headphones rest on top of your ears.

    Also, earcups can only move up and down, but not left and right. As a result, you can’t quite adjust the earpads to fit properly on your ears.

    We tested the headphones in 4 different positions:

    OneOdio A11 wearing positions (SuperEQ tuning)
    Different wearing positions mostly affect frequency response in the bass region, with some surprising spikes in the treble as well.

    The latter results in comfort that doesn’t last for a long time. They’re okay for 30 minutes, after which you have to take a break or readjust them.

    On the other hand, the fit is more than adequate for daily use. The A11 have a moderate clamp force, which is sufficient enough to endure rapid head movements.

    Keep in mind that stability still isn’t good enough for rigorous workouts.

    Durability

    Star Rating
    2.5 Average

    Due to cost restrictions, the A11 aren’t built that well. The most concerning are the foldable hinges that are entirely plastic and could easily break.

    As mentioned under the comfort category, OneOdio didn’t use the best materials for making the padding on the A11.

    OneOdio A11 headband adjustment clip
    A tiny plastic clip that holds the headband adjuster in place.

    The same goes for the rest of the build. Hinges responsible for the folding mechanism are entirely made of cheap plastic.

    Even a headband adjustment mechanism is entirely plastic. A small plastic pin can’t really hold earcups in place, so they keep on extending even when applying a tiny bit of pressure.

    Another concerning thing is exposed cables. You actually start pulling the wires if you fully extend the earcups, which can damage them.

    The only thing that somewhat saves the looks of the A11 is the chrome finish on the back of the earcups.

    With the included faux leather pouch, you can store them conveniently to prevent scratches but not protect the Bluetooth headphones from drops.

    All in all, you have to treat the OneOdio A11 headphones with care if you plan to use them for a long time.

    Battery

    Star Rating
    2.5 Average

    Headphones use the old-school micro-USB port and lack fast charging. At least the battery life of 23 hours and 11 minutes should last you a couple of days.

    OneOdio A11 battery comparison:

    OneOdio A11 battery chart

    The A11’s battery life lasts for around 23 hours and 11 minutes (based on our test). That’s more than enough for a couple of days of listening.

    However, in a world where 40 hours or more per single charge is relatively common, the OneOdio A11 seem pretty average.

    Even many ANC headphones can do better with active noise cancelling enabled.

    Furthermore, they don’t officially support fast charging and are using a micro-USB port. While you get the charging cable in the box, it’s quite short, and most of us are already rocking USB-C.

    That means it can be rather annoying to charge these headphones with such a short cable.

    Features

    Star Rating
    3.0 Good

    Headphones offer a basic set of onboard controls, a dedicated SuperEQ button, and an AUX port for wired listening.

    OneOdio A11 provide a standard user experience, with an essential set of buttons under the right earcup.

    There you’ll find dedicated volume up and down controls and a multifunction button for playback and turning headphones on and off.

    A fourth button enables the Super EQ technology, which is essentially a bass booster if you crave more rumble.

    By using the same button, you can also enable a voice assistant to perform voice commands.

    OneOdio A11 physical controls
    A good array of commands, from volume control, playback button, and a circular “SuperEQ” button for extra bass.

    OneOdio A11 Microphone Test

    Despite their cheap price, the built-in microphone does a good job at call quality. It ensures clear calls, especially in a quiet room.

    In a noisier environment, the cVc 8.0 tech isn’t too aggressive and doesn’t fully block ambient noise. That helps keep your voice understandable, but it can also occasionally distort it.

    As long as you don’t make phone calls in a noisy environment, the OneOdio A11 are a great cheap solution for business meetings, online courses, or Zoom calls.

    Noise Isolation

    Star Rating
    3.0 Good

    Despite a finicky on-ear fit, headphones do an okay job at passive isolation, blocking a decent portion of background noise.

    On-ear earpads aren’t the most effective when blocking ambient noise passively. Since OneOdio A11 are something in between on and over-ear, they don’t create the tightest seal.

    OneOdio A11 right side indicator
    To know which side is which, you have to look inside the earcup or on the inner side of the frame.

    However, they still do a good job at passive noise isolation. Results are just slightly worse than what you get with over-ear headphones, like the A30 model.

    Still, if you plan to use them in noisier environments, like public transport or streets, you will have to crank up the volume higher to drown out surrounding noise.

    Of course, the latter is never a good idea if you want to keep your hearing healthy.

    Bluetooth

    Star Rating
    4.0 Great

    The A11 have an average Bluetooth range and a standard list of audio codecs. Not much but fair for the price.

    OneOdio A11 have a Bluetooth 5.0 with a stable connection, with no random audio cuts during regular use.

    The Bluetooth connection distance is only average, reaching the second brick wall, after which the audio becomes unlistenable due to constant stutters.

    The first pairing is simple. You only have to turn on the headphones and select them in a Bluetooth menu on your smartphone.

    Multipoint?

    No, OneOdio A11 can’t handle multiple simultaneous connections between two devices. For example, headphones can’t automatically switch from a laptop to a smartphone if you receive a phone call.

    OneOdio A11 headband logo
    Despite their cheaper price, Bluetooth connection remains very reliable.

    What Bluetooth Codecs Do They Use?

    Headphones use a default SBC and AAC. That’s more than enough for both Android and Apple Bluetooth-enabled devices.

    Strangely, Android Bluetooth devices automatically select AAC, even though they work best with the SBC Bluetooth codec.

    Is There an Audio Lag?

    None whatsoever. You can easily watch videos and play games without overly annoying lag.

    Should You Get The OneOdio A11?

    If you really don’t want to spend more than $40 and don’t like earbuds, these might be worth checking out.

    They have decent comfort and fit, have zero audio lag, and have a good enough battery life for at least a couple of days.

    OneOdio A11 exposed cable
    The OneOdio A11 wireless headphones have exposed wires.

    Considering the price, they’re more than decent, even though this review isn’t praising them.

    However, if you don’t mind adding 15-20 dollars more, the OneOdio A30 are far superior headphones.

    By knowing that, I have a hard time recommending the A11.

    Compare prices:

    How OneOdio A11 Compare to The Competition?

    • The A11 have a slightly better battery capacity than other similarly priced headphones. They offer at least 23 hours of playtime, whereas the competition offers around 20 hours.
    • The build quality is also quite comparable. However, spending 15-20 dollars more can give you a significant boost in material quality.
    • They offer a similar number of features, with basic playback controls and an AUX port.
    • The sound quality is below average in comparison. The audio really isn’t the A11 strong point.

    Compare prices:

    OneOdio A11 Alternatives

    OneOdio A30

    OneOdio A30 on a branch

    Overall, the A30 are a noticeable upgrade over the A11. They add more body, texture, and transparency to the overall sound presentation.

    Furthermore, the build quality is better, with bigger, softer earpads that go around your ears entirely.

    Also, they have good active noise cancellation performance, which is perfect for travel in commuting.

    OneOdio A30 review

    Samson SR850

    Samson SR850 construction

    For a similar price, the Samson SR850 Hi-Fi stereo headphones offer superior sound quality, better bass control, and more natural mids and highs.

    However, build quality and comfort are worse than on the A11. They’re also wired and have a fixed, long audio cable.

    They have a semi-open design, which leaks a lot of sound.

    Samson SR850 review

    Aukey EP-N12

    Aukey EP-N12 folded

    Slightly more expensive wireless Bluetooth headset (around $50) with overall better build and comfort.

    They have a long battery life, even when you enable ANC.

    The tuning in Bluetooth mode is overly boosted and can sound overwhelming. However, when using a 3.5mm jack, they start sounding much better.

    Aukey EP-N12 review

    What’s in the Box?

    OneOdio A11 accessories
    • OneOdio A11 Bluetooth headphone
    • Faux leather storage bag
    • Micro-USB cable
    • 3.5mm cable
    • User manual

    Specifications

    Type: Over-ear
    Connection: Bluetooth 5.0
    Back design: Closed-back
    Drivers: 40mm dynamic
    Frequency range: n/a
    Impedance: n/a
    Weight: 226g
    Mic & Controls: Yes
    Water resistance: None
    Battery life: 24h
    Charging time: 2h – Micro-USB
    Active noise cancelling: No
    Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC
    Wireless range: 33ft (10m)
    Microphone: cVc 8.0

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