We try out a pair of AceFit Pro Open Ear Headphones from Acefast
I grew up in the 80s at a time when films were feverishly trying to predict what things would look like in the future.
These headphones wouldn’t have looked out of places in a cheesy sci-fi film where the future teens were whipping out these little headphones with their illuminated sleek little case and glowing earpieces.
I love headphones, they are a bit of an obsession, one that has led to me having a draw full of them.
From massive over the ear headphones, to airpods, sports headphones, and even some I can swim in. I have a different favourite depending on my mood, and I always welcome a new addition.
This pair of open-ear headphones from Acefast is instantly appealing due to the very sleek pebble-shaped case.
The pair I have has a funky violet backlight, and an LED display on the front that shows you the battery life with a numerical reading.
That’s actually a really cool feature, and one I hadn’t seen before. It’s great in that it lets you know how long you have left before they leave you soundless.
I love the case, it’s very compact, and it fits neatly in your trousers, or a shirt pocket. Aesthetics aside, the headphones have a hook design that sits over the ear rather than in it, this was a new concept to me until last year, now it’s something I really like. They hover over your ear canal, rather than sitting inside them.
These are very light and comfortable and are reminiscent of the feeling of wearing glasses over your ear. There is no movement when wearing them, meaning that they serve you well if you are out running, or trying to run, like me.
The headphones have AELC Bass enhanced technology included, but I will be honest, on my first listen I didn’t feel the bass was particularly punchy, if anything it felt a bit tinny.
There’s an app that accompanies the headphones, and I had a tinker with the graphic equaliser within that to make it more to my liking. I was also able to change the lighting and the touch controls.
There’s no real sound leakage, which is good, especially if you are commuting and worried about angry glares. In terms of noise cancelling effect, they do the job as best as an open ear set of headphones can, which will always be limited.
One of the first things that I had an issue with was taking them out of the case and indeed out of my ear, because they are touch control, you find yourself skipping tracks or turning up the volume, unwillingly. This is an issue with a lot of smaller bluetooth headphones. You can customise this in the app and this does eliminate the issues.
The other issue I had was sometimes I would take them out of the case and only one would work. Placing them back in the case, shutting the lid and starting again usually sorted the situation out first time. A bit annoying, especially for the price that you would be paying. I could have got unlucky with the pair I had, and as I say, it’s not a permanent issue.
Each headphone weighs just 7.8g making it very easy to wear and unlike others I have worn that over time make your ears a bit sore.
There’s a safety benefit if training in the dark because the breathable LED lights actually glow to give people visibility of you, they also look futuristically cool. You can turn this off if you want.
The battery life on them claims to be 6 hours on a single charge but with 25 hours via the case. I think based on my experience that these are numbers that will reduce a little quicker with higher volume listening.
In short, I really like these headphones, the design is great both visually and ergonomically. Any issues I had with sound, I was able to tailor to my needs with the equaliser within the app. I did have the issues with the case, and I did find it odd that the charging lead was on the bottom rather than the side. That makes it a bit awkward charging them, but by no means impossible.
So, there are a few little niggles with these, but all in all they are really nicely designed headphones that can sound pretty good, comfortable, and really good for exercising in.
The headphones are available now from the Acefast website for £93.
Alternatives
Reviews
techradar: I can see buyers looking for simple workout buds finding the AceFit Pro acceptable due to the audio profile, but audiophiles – the few of them who’d ever consider open earbuds – won’t love these buds.
Forbes: If you’re in the market for some open-ear headphones that aren’t too expensive then the Acefast Pro’s are worth considering. The on-case battery level indicator is a useful feature and the colorful LEDs might appeal, especially to a younger audience. While the volume output is impressive some might find the sound quality a tad on the harsh side for their liking.
