The second-gen Aonic 50 headphones deliver more battery and a confident sound – at an equally confident asking price
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(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
T3 Verdict
Reasons to buy+Confident sound with considerable user-customisation+Comfortable to wear for long periods+Decent battery lifeReasons to avoid-Not the most powerful noise-cancelling (ANC)-High price and considerable competition-Wind tear can be an ANC bother
Reasons to buy+Confident sound with considerable user-customisation+Comfortable to wear for long periods+Decent battery life
Confident sound with considerable user-customisation
Comfortable to wear for long periods
Decent battery life
Reasons to avoid-Not the most powerful noise-cancelling (ANC)-High price and considerable competition-Wind tear can be an ANC bother
Not the most powerful noise-cancelling (ANC)
High price and considerable competition
Wind tear can be an ANC bother
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
When it comes tothe best headphonesthere is no shortage whatsoever for high-end, top-quality over-ear cans – a space where Shure wants to be in contention at the top with its second-generation Aonic 50, on review here.
I’ve listened to many ofthe best noise-cancelling (ANC) headphonesand, given the nature of my job, I tend tolivein such headphones with ANC activated so I can concentrate on getting words down without outside world distractions gaining my attention.
I’ve worn the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 off and on for a week, both inside and outdoors, to gain an understanding of how these headphones cope in various conditions. Given that these new-gen over-ears are priced at a level where you could consider theSony WH-1000XM5orBowers & Wilkins Px7 S2instead, however, does Shure successfully stand apart from the most obvious choices?
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 review: What’s new?
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
When Shure announced its second-generation pair of its popular studio-quality Aonic 50 headphones – which happened at a consumer show called IFA, where they madeT3’s Best of Tech 2023cut – the upgrades over the first-generation were clear, but not particularly extensive.
One, these wireless cans add Shure’s spatial audio support, which delivers Music, Cinema, and Podcast modes. Two they beef up the battery, which is said to deliver 50 per cent longer life per charge – up to a massive 45 hours per charge – so are much longer-lasting. Three, the design is now all-black, with no other flourishes or colourway options to purchase (yet, anyway).
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: Price & Availability
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Today’s best Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 deals1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆$345.99View$349View$459.59ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 deals
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There’s no doubting Shure’s confidence in the Aonic 50 Gen 2’s craft, as these over-ears are priced at £349/$349 – putting them in contention with some of the other high-ranked top-tier headphones of today.
I can only really think ofBose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphonesas costing a lot more right now (£449/$429). OrApple’s insanely pricedAirPods Max(£499/$549), of course.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 review: Design & Usability
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 come in a hardshell carry case with the Shure logo on the front. It zips up tightly, while inside you’ll find a 3.5mm cable for wired listening, which lives inside a little mesh ‘nest’ for storage. I’ve often just put the headphones loose into a bag when out and about, however, as this case is fairly sizeable overall.
As mentioned, a subtle new design feature of the Gen 2 Aonic 50 is the all-black finish. Personally I’d prefer a lick of silver or metallic flourish to give an additional point of interest; the all-black approach is more subdued than the headphones they replace.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
The left earcup is where the 3.5mm jack is housed for wired listening; however the USB-C port on the right earcup can also be designated for hi-res listening (up to 32-bit/384kHz) which goes to show just how studio high-res capable these cans are.
In terms of comfort, I’ve been wearing the Aonic 50 Gen 2 on and off for a week and I’ve found them decent, given the soft earcups and headband, although the position of the earcups when worn has tended to push the headband further forward for me. They don’t feel like they’ll slip off, though.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 review: Features & Performance
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
The more I’ve used the Aonic 50 Gen 2 the more I’ve felt as though these over-ears are going to be best for those typically using headphones at home. They are premium studio headphones after all, with lots of format compatibility – aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC, LDAC – and to 32-bit/384kHz compatibility via USB-C, should you be listening from a laptop or similar.
With good quality source material the Aonic 50 Gen 2 delivers a confident sound that’s rich and engaging, without pushing too firmly on any one element of bass, mid or treble. And if you think the sound is a little lacking in life then the ShurePlay app (forAndroidandiOS) comes with lots of EQ pre-sets and even a highly adjustable manual control.
That manual control allows for +/-10dB adjustments from 20Hz at the low-end, through to 20kHz at the high-end, which gives you an idea of how dramatically the already wide spectrum of sound can be manipulated to your wants. I’ve found in noisier outdoor conditions adding a Loudness pre-set can be helpful to gain that extra oomph in delivery.
(Image credit: Future / Shure)
(Image credit: Future / Shure)
There’s no lacking of volume or clarity from the Aonic 50 Gen 2 either. The reason I don’t think they’re ideal for outdoors use is because, well, the active noise-cancelling (ANC) technology isn’t as adept as the best-of-best on the market (BoseandSonyhave that wrapped up), while ANC – which uses external microphones in order to function – suffers pretty poorly from wind tear, even in not crazily windy situations. When wearing the Aonic 50 Gen 2 on the London Underground, for example, pressure changes caused significant pops and outages.
It’s when I’ve been sat at home, listening with more intent, that I’ve found the Aonic 50 Gen 2 to be at their best. They are of course wireless headphones, so do offer that versatility of outside use, I’ve just had products handle those conditions better in the past.
It’s also whilst sat at home that I’ve dug a little deeper into the Spatializer feature, also present in the app, which uses an algorithm to assist with given enhanced three-dimensionality to Music, Cinema and Podcast. It works nicely, spacing sounds apart to give the impression of a wider soundstage, although it’s not going to make all content necessarily sound better.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 review: Verdict
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
If you’re looking for well-made headphones with top quality sound and high-res audio compatibility the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 are a confident pair of over-ears that deliver audio with gusto – and add a little extra thanks to the Spatializer and customisable EQ settings.
The active noise-cancellation (ANC), however, isn’t the most powerful I’ve heard in a pair of headphones, and when this mode is engaged when outdoors it doesn’t cope brilliantly with wind tear sounds. As a result I’d predominantly use these headphones in the studio, or at the office desk.
All in all the second-gen Aonic 50 are confident for a reason: Shure sure knows good sound and these over-ear headphones deliver that eloquently for at-home listening. They do cost a packet, though, so if you’re likely to be out and about and want to spend a tad less there are other obvious go-to alternatives.
Also consider
If it’s the very best active noise-cancelling (ANC) that you want then look to theBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. However, those are more expensive than the Shure, so if you still want superb quality and sound for a little less then theSony WH-1000XM5are the best ANC headphones for most people at the time of writing. And if ANC isn’t your foremost concern and you want a more subtle, gentler design, thenBowers & Wilkins' PX7 S2are also a great option to consider.
Today’s best Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2, Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones dealsShure Aonic 50 Gen 2$345.99ViewSee all pricesSony WH-1000XM5$320.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$256.99ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2, Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones dealsShure Aonic 50 Gen 2$345.99ViewSee all pricesSony WH-1000XM5$320.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$256.99ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2, Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones dealsShure Aonic 50 Gen 2$345.99ViewSee all pricesSony WH-1000XM5$320.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$256.99ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2, Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones deals
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2$345.99ViewSee all pricesSony WH-1000XM5$320.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$256.99ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429ViewSee all prices
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2$345.99ViewSee all prices
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2$345.99ViewSee all prices
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
$345.99View
$345.99
$345.99
See all prices
Sony WH-1000XM5$320.99$279.95ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM5$320.99$279.95ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony WH-1000XM5
$320.99$279.95View
$320.99$279.95
$279.95
See all prices
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$256.99ViewSee all prices
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$256.99ViewSee all prices
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
$399$256.99View
$399$256.99
$256.99
See all prices
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
$429View
$429
$429
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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