Sound –
Tonality –
The 1More ANC TWS is a V-shaped earphone with an engaging, slightly aggressive sound. Reading up online, I was concerned by the number of reviews quoting excess colouration, however, in measurement and listening, I hear nothing too obtrusive to my ears here. 1More did note some retuning on THX’ behalf and, of course, they do remain coloured so buyers shouldn’t expect a balanced and accurate sound. Rather, the ANC TWS prioritises engagement and low-end punch for listening when on the go counterbalanced by an energetic treble for clarity.
Mid-bass appears most emphasised, not by a huge degree but delivering a full, punchy sound. There’s a lower-midrange dip for separation before a progressive climb to a 4kHz hump, retaining a clear and well-present vocal range. A small dip in the lower-treble and subsequent 6k peak help to curb sibilance while permitting strong detail presence and clarity. Due to the sharper, quicker transient response offered by the BA driver, the high-end has more attack than most TWS earphones that makes it a pleasure for genres like rock and acoustic. As I was not able to record reliable measurements for this earphone, none will be included for this review.
ANC On –
Of note, and as stated by others, the TWS ANC does sound slightly different when ANC is on and 1More explain this is due to the hybrid driver setup and Quietmax dual-band ANC. When ANC is activated, the crossover frequency is altered so the DD handles ANC duty and the BA is permitted to handle some bass to compensate; thereby minimising the sound quality loss usually found when the driver must handle both audio and ANC. The earphones have also been updated from initial launch to retain a more balanced sound with ANC on, though again, some differences are apparent.
Sub-bass becomes slightly more prominent, you get a heftier slam and slightly looser presentation. Mid-bass is actually a little faster, perhaps due to the BA driver, but there is minimal benefit to overall separation and definition as the looser, more present sub-bass increases note thickness. I think this is very desirable as the entire bass range isn’t affected when ANC is turned on and the ANC is very effective. They remain very enjoyable with ANC on, with a noticeable but not especially intrusive increase in bass quantity. This also works in the sense that ANC will likely only be used in noisy environments, where some additional bass is welcome. Comments below will be with ANC off.
Bass –
1More are known to favour a bassier sound and the TWS ANC falls in line. It isn’t a bass monster, though bass still sits slightly in front of the midrange so it is both voluminous and prominent. Sub-bass is moderately elevated and demonstrates good extension, producing a firm, well-defined slam and rumble with minimal roll-off. Mid-bass sits a touch in front, instigating a full-bodied and slightly warm bass response. As there is good linearity between sub and mid-bass, timbre isn’t overly skewed so it doesn’t sound too tubby but certainly quite a full. A little bloat is apparent on some tracks in turn. The upper-bass and lower-midrange see an obvious dip to reduce midrange colouration and this helps to clean up the tone and timbre within the low-end too.
I personally enjoy the driver quality at play too, it’s one of the better performers I’ve heard from the TWS form factor, especially given the bassier tuning. Driver control is a good performer, notes are well defined with a quick, concise attack contributing to a slightly more aggressive and energetic performance. Decay is a little slower though not sloppy; you get thick and elongated notes but with gobs of texture due to the higher definition. Still, due to the bolstered note size, separation is not the best, albeit just good enough to prevent congestion, they can still become a little smeared on complex tracks. The 1More ANC TWS is a relatively bassy earphone that upholds a respectable timbre and engages with its visceral note presentation.
Mids –
The ANC TWS is clearly coloured in the midrange too, but manages to sound quite natural for what it is. There aren’t any sudden peaks or troughs in the tuning, only a lower-midrange and upper-bass dip followed by gradual climb to 4kHz prominence. You get an inviting, but not excessive warmth, and slightly diminished midrange body for enhanced vocal definition and minimised veil and boom. With good upper-midrange extension and some additional body from the low-end, I didn’t find the earphone to sound dry, strained or excessively thin. Similarly, this is quite an articulate earphone, with uptick of 6kHz presence contributing to the well-defined vocal range. As a result, some raspiness is apparent and they can sound a touch sharp on poorly mastered tracks especially as there is minimal density or smoothness to compensate.
In turn, expect just that; an engaging, clear midrange but with a natural voicing. This won’t appeal to those wanting smoothness and absolute coherence, but a higher contrast sound with some added warmth to aid musicality. Due to the upper-midrange emphasis, male vocals are laid-back and female vocals taking precedence. As the bass and treble have been brought forwards, vocals don’t come across as too intense or forward, at most achieving parity with the surrounding frequencies. Conversely, as vocals have been brought forward, they are never overshadowed by bass or treble. I find this an appealing tuning in turn. The ANC TWS has a pleasant timbre, inviting warmth and sound positioning, all the while retaining good clarity and definition.
Highs –
Detail lovers will surely enjoy this earphone and we can observe the hybrid setup providing real benefits here. It remains an aggressive sound with a forward detail region so again, not for those wanting a realistic or balanced sound but an engaging one. There’s a small dip at 5k to redeem some smoothness and aid a more coherent midrange by reducing sharpness and sibilance. However, above lies a moderate 6k peak that enhances detail presence and clarity. Accordingly, the ANC TWS sounds relatively thin but crisp and treble instrumentation is presented not in the most realistic way but with outstanding definition, nonetheless. Transients are clean and very well-defined. There’s strong detail retrieval and even good fine detail retrieval for a TWS earphone and it is presented in a focused manner.
Percussion is crisp with a sharp attack. Decay is also quite natural, perhaps just a little quick sapping an iota of texture from cymbals and strings. There’s a darker background that aids a very clean and well contrasted presentation. It helps avoid the sensation of glare, brittleness and intensity despite some treble forwardness. Extension is above average but still doesn’t match the likes of the ADV. M5 and some other high-end models, some breakup and grain creeps in around 8k with minimal useable information above. There remains good headroom and air if not overt atmosphere and sparkle. The star of the show is clearly that crisp and very well-detailed foreground that provides awesome contrast to the clean background and punchy bass, besting essentially all single-driver competitors.
Soundstage –
The 1More ANC TWS offers an impressively widesoundstagethat extends clearly beyond the head with the right tracks. That said, depth is limited so it is a clearly width biased presentation. Imaging also is a bit one-dimensional, positioning tends to be pushed central or wide albeit with good lateral expansion. Still, directional cues are sharp and the centre image is defined. There is a clear foreground and background layer with good separation but of course, not the level of organisation of a balanced wired in-ear and some TWS competitors. Separation is above average, not a specialty of this earphone due to its full and warmer tuning, though treble showcases great separation due to its well-defined notes.
Comparisons –
Apple Airpods Pros ($219): The Airpods Pros are considerably smaller and a bit more comfortable but also have a less stable fit for me personally due to a lack of fins or other stabilisers. ANC is slightly stronger but also more prone to artefacts such as wind noise. The sound is more balanced on the APP but less technically impressive. For instance, bass is flatter but also less controlled, lacking the same texture, dynamics and definition. Mids are a little more coherent on the APP too, and more balanced with the bass and treble. The 1More has higher clarity and definition but it also sounds more obviously coloured. The treble is smoother on the APP, the 1More has a much sharper, cleaner transient response being much more dMiled with greater headroom and a wider soundstage.
M&D MW07 Plus ($299): The MW07 Plus is a direct competitor with a similar kind of tuning and agile Be driver. Its ANC and total noise attenuating abilities are not as good, but it is much smaller with much better battery life. The sound is a little more balanced on the MW07 Plus, being U-shaped. It has a bass boost, the 1More is a little bassier, especially in the mid-bass. The MW07 Plus has a more controlled and defined bass with quicker decay, while the 1More has more slam and weight. The midrange is even clearer and more defined on the MW07 Plus but also more intense. It is a bit cleaner due to it having less bass. The MW07 Plus has a brighter top-end, its transient response is almost as sharp, the 1More has a more focused detail delivery though. The MW07 Plus has a bit more air and similar soundstage dimensions.
Sennheiser Momentum TWS ($299): The Momentum is also a direct competitor with a V-shaped sound and ANC. It is smaller with a much better seal for similar fit stability but also much better passive noise isolation, albeit ANC is not nearly as effective so total noise attenuation is similar. The Momentum has a smoother, more laid-back sound. The bass is similarly forward, but is warmer and more mid-bass focused with a bit less control, smoother texture and lower definition. The midrange is also more laid-back on the Momentum, it is denser and smoother without the same clarity and definition as the 1More. In turn, it comes across as a bit more organic and coherent but some may find it veiled. The lower-treble is also forward on the MTW2, the 1More clearly has better fine detail retrieval while the Senn sounds slightly more natural in timbre with a bit more body. The 1More has better extension, the MTW2 sounding darker and cleaner but also less open. The 1More has a wider soundstage.
Hifiman TWS800 ($299): The TWS800 is not a direct competitor, it has no ANC and pursues a balanced sound, but is also one of the best (if not the best) audio-focused TWS earphones on the market. It is much more balanced and coherent off the bat. Bass extends similarly but is more linear with only an uptick of mid-bass to add some engagement. Driver control is higher, it is much more defined and discerning. The midrange is naturally voiced on both, the TWS800 is more coherent with better balance between clarity and smoothness and a more accurate body. The treble is not as forward on the TWS800, it has a 5k peak rather than a 6k peak. There remains a crisp and well-bodied treble, the 1More has slightly better fine detail retrieval and a slightly wider soundstage. However, the TWS800 has much better layering, imaging and separation that make it much more rewarding on well-mastered tracks under critical listening.
Verdict –
Looking at 1More’s pitch, the ANC TWS seems like a pretty impressive piece of kit. It takes a unique approach to common issues with ANC and executes solutions with efficacy and complexity. In use, the ANC TWS does not disappoint, it cancels noise effectively, comfortably and with minimal artefacts. It also does so while retaining an engaging and punchy sound with excellent detail retrieval. There are areas where this design falls short, however. This is a large earphone and one with no official IP rating. Similarly, the sound is not especially balanced albeit well-voiced all considered. Perhaps the biggest selling point is the price, at $179 USD. Though not economical, it does comfortably undercuts direct competitors. And while it may not best market leaders, it gets incredibly close in core aspects of performance for considerably less, while delivering a more technical sound on top.
The TWS ANC is available from Amazon (International) for $179.99 USD at the time of writing. Please see my affiliate link for the most updated pricing, availability and configurations.
Track List –
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Archive – Controlling Crows (Parts I – III)
AKMU – SAILING
Bob Segar – Night Moves
Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How Your Really Feel
Eric Clapton – Unplugged
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits
John Legend – Once Again
MAMAMOO – reality in BLACK
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Modest House – Good News For People Who Love Bad News
NIKI – lowkey
Nirvana – Nervermind
Radiohead – OK Computer
Social House – Haunt You
suggi – cheer up!
TOTO – Toto IV
Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride
Vaundy – strobo
