BudgetHeadphonesReview

OneOdio A70 Review – Easy Plug

OneOdio is a Hong Kong based manufacturer of very attractively priced headphones and earphones who sent me a sample of their A70 Bluetooth & Wired closedback overears for my review. They are currently on offer at $ 39.95.

At-a-glance Card

PROsCONs
Multiple connectivity options and accessoriesVery slow bass transients
Very good battery lifeLimited resolving capabilities
ComfortableLimited technicalities
Good isolationGet a bit too warm on prolonged auditions
Inexpensive
Viable entry-level “bass-head” presentation

Connectivity

A70 offer a an extensive array of connectivity options that make it easy to employ them in so many different scenarios.

Starting with wired connectivity, there’s a 6.35mm connector on the left shell, and another, 3.5mm connector on the right one. In the box two cables are supplied, a 6.35-3.5mm 2.8m “coiled” cable, and a 3.5-3.5mm 1.5m “straight” one. All of this is exclusively single ended, by the way.

You can use the coiled cable “they way you like”, depending on your source HP port: if your source has a 3.5mm port, you’ll plug the 3.5mm end on there, and the 6.35mm end onto A70’s left shell. Alternatively, if you want to connect to your desktop amp – typically featuring a 6.35mm port – you’ll simply flip the cable around, plug its 6.35mm terminal onto the amp, and the 3.5mm terminal onto A70’s right shell this time. Either way, same result, same operation.

If you’re walking around, chances are the 2.8m cable is too long. So you can pull the 3.5-3.5 1.5m straight one and use that to plug A70 onto your DAP.

Oh by the way, the 3.5mm connector on the right A70 shell has a twist-lock mechanism. Nice feature, especially in a mobile scenario.

Bluetooth connectivity is very straightforward: A70 goes on pairing mode when you switch it on. Go look for it on the phone or dap, choose it, and you’re done.  Warning: plugging the 6.35mm cable on disables bluetooth (logically).

And lastly: should you happen to own two A70s you may configure them as a “tandem”, and share musing with a friend: pair either via bluetooth, then run the long cable plugging the 6.35 end on one A70 and the 3.5mm end on the other. Done!

Battery

The A70 comes with a 950mAh battery offering up to 50h playtime. Of course the effective autonomy may vary a bit depending on condition, volume etc, but that’s not soo important I think, as pretty much any audio-dedicated mobile source will run out of juice much sooner 🙂

It will take 2 – 3 hours to recharge the internal battery. A USB cable is provided in the box. No charger though.

Build and comfort

The entire A70 structure is made of ABS and appears reasonably solid. The headband has an internal sheet metal reinforcement. Both headband cushion and earpad stuffings are quite soft, and covered in faux-leather.

Actionating on the headband to calibrate its width almost always requires taking the A70 off, so that could have been designed better, but for the rest once worn A70 feel more than reasonably comfortable thanks to good haptics, well calibrated clamping force and a limited weight (220g, without the cable).

Passive isolation is very good too. On the flip side, airflow also is minimal so some heat does build up in case of prolonged audition sessions.

When not in use A70 can be flipped and folded onto themselves in a very compact configuration. A soft carry pouch is also supplied.

Sound

Timbre is bodied, soft edged. Tonality is warm, on an obviously V-shaped presentation.

Bass is what plays the principal role on A70, coming accross full, flourished and expansive, especially the mid-bass, which often steals too much off the scene and bloats / veils on the mids, shaping the entire presentation “warm&bassy”.

Mids are recessed but per se not bad. When no big influence comes from the bass they show a certain body and articulation. Trebles are quite nice, not particularly sparkly nor extended but they do help brightening the scene quite often, although some thin metal nuance is present on some fringes.

Soundstage is quite intimate. Imaging and layering are negatively impacted by the bloated bass and the drivers’ general lack of resolving power.

Specifications (declared)

Driver(s)40mm dynamic driver
Connector3.5mm and 6.35mm single ended connectors
Cable1 x 2.8m 6.35-3.5mm coiled single ended cable, 1 x 1.5m 3.5-3.5mm single ended cable
Sensitivity110 dB
Impedance32 Ohm
Frequency Range20 – 20000 Hz
Battery950mAh, 50h playtime
MSRP at this post time$ 61,95 ($ 39,95 ongoing special deal)
Also check out Durwood’s review of the Oneodio Pro C.

Conclusions

A70 are an inexpensive pair of comfortable closedbacks offering a plethora of  connectivity possibilities granting their user really uncommon usage flexibility and convenience. 

Soundwise they offer a sub-audiophile-grade output quality, which nevertheless may be appreciated by whoever likes warm bass-focused easy-going / fun presentations.

You can find (and buy) them at the manufacturer’s website – here.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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Author

  • Alberto Pittaluga

    Head-Fier “Hooga” since 2020. Alberto is a part-time music and audio lover. He’s got limited time to concede himself to listening to music, and that’s why his primary focus is min-maxing his audio enjoyment sessions. To make things further complicated, due to family compromises he stays away from airing music on room speakers and dedicates himself exclusively to in- or over-ear drivers. A technology enthusiast since he was a kid, Alberto is not overly attracted by novelties for the sake of themselves, he’s indeed not a compulsive gear roller, and is interested in understanding why and how a given piece of equipment produces better or worse results. His articles are about sharing his experience with the hope that it may be useful to others on the same quest. In real life he is Italian, in his mid fifties, works as a sales&marketing executive, and his other main technical competence is IT.

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Alberto Pittaluga (Bologna, Italy)

Head-Fier “Hooga” since 2020. Alberto is a part-time music and audio lover. He’s got limited time to concede himself to listening to music, and that’s why his primary focus is min-maxing his audio enjoyment sessions. To make things further complicated, due to family compromises he stays away from airing music on room speakers and dedicates himself exclusively to in- or over-ear drivers. A technology enthusiast since he was a kid, Alberto is not overly attracted by novelties for the sake of themselves, he’s indeed not a compulsive gear roller, and is interested in understanding why and how a given piece of equipment produces better or worse results. His articles are about sharing his experience with the hope that it may be useful to others on the same quest. In real life he is Italian, in his mid fifties, works as a sales&marketing executive, and his other main technical competence is IT.

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