If you want better Included accessories
Choose JBL Tour One M3 Headphones. It scores 5.0 vs 2.2 for Included accessories, with a 4.1 overall score.
EarFun Wave Life Wireless Headphones Review
Bottom Line
Choose these if you want cheap, comfy over-ears with long battery life and strong app EQ. Skip them if you need dependable ANC or consistently good sound without tweaking.
Best for
Budget buyers who want comfortable over-ear headphones for long listening, casual calls, and app-based sound tuning. They also suit people who care more about battery life, multipoint, and low sale pricing than class-leading ANC.
Not for
Anyone who wants great sound straight out of the box, stronger noise canceling for travel, or a more premium build and accessory pack. Critical listeners who do not want to tweak EQ should look elsewhere.
Verdict
The EarFun Wave Life gets the basics of budget over-ear ownership surprisingly right: the fit is genuinely comfortable, battery life is excellent, the app is unusually capable, and features like multipoint, USB-C audio, and game mode add real utility. The tradeoff is that the core listening experience is inconsistent. Several reviewers found the stock tuning too bass-heavy, muddy, or dull unless they spent time adjusting EQ, and ANC rarely rose above adequate low-frequency hush. If you shop primarily by value and comfort, these make sense on sale. If you care most about balanced sound, reliable noise canceling, or a stronger accessory bundle, there are safer step-up alternatives.
Feature Scorecards
Pros
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Comfort is the clearest strength across the review set. Multiple reviewers highlighted hours-long wear, soft fit, and minimal fatigue.
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Bluetooth stability is a bright spot, with tested reviews noting strong range and dependable day-to-day wireless performance.
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EQ customization is one of the standout features, with custom tuning, hearing-test tools, and flexible sliders frequently cited as essential to getting the best sound.
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Battery life is a consistent strong point, with reviewers repeatedly highlighting long runtime that stands out for this price class.
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The companion app is a major asset, repeatedly praised for adding useful control, firmware access, and tuning tools without heavy setup friction.
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The ear pads earn strong marks for soft foam and plush feel, helping the headphones stay comfortable even during extended sessions.
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Multipoint is widely praised as easy and reliable once enabled, with smooth switching between phones, tablets, and laptops aside from occasional app-side quirks.
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Charging performance is solid thanks to quick-charge support and easy USB-C top-ups, though exact full-charge impressions vary.
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Latency performance is solid for budget headphones. Game mode exists, and reviewers generally found video watching and casual mobile gaming suitably in sync.
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The fold-flat, foldable design makes the Wave Life easy to pack, even if the missing case limits travel protection.
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USB-C handling is a practical advantage here, covering charging and wired audio playback instead of relying on a separate 3.5mm cable.
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Value is the headline win: even critics admitted the feature set and comfort are aggressive for the price, though several reviewers still felt the weak ANC or sound tuning limited the bargain.
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Preset EQ support is generous, but quality is mixed: the variety is appreciated, yet some reviewers found many presets too quiet or less effective than manual tuning.
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Physical controls are mostly easy to find and use, but not everyone liked the feel; some reviewers called the buttons cheap even as others found them tactile and intuitive.
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The Wave Life gets adequately loud for most listeners, but several reviews noted that comfortable listening comes late on the volume scale or that EQ changes reduce output.
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Bass is plentiful and often the star of the tuning, with several reviewers praising deep punch and sub-bass, but others found it bloated or overpowering.
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Call quality is generally decent for casual use, with some reviewers praising clear voice pickup, though others heard fuzziness, echo, or reduced vocal nuance.
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Overall sound quality is polarizing. Positive reviewers heard lively, enjoyable tuning once adjusted, while negative reviewers described muddy, tinny, or bass-skewed playback that fell short out of the box. USB-C wired playback is split. One reviewer said it transforms the sound for the better, while another said wired mode makes an already weak tuning sound worse.
Cons
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Mids are the weak middle ground: some heard clear vocals after EQ, but multiple reviewers said mids sounded recessed, muffled, or overshadowed by bass.
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Build quality lands around acceptable for the price: mostly plastic but often described as sturdy enough, with some complaints about rough edges, flimsier parts, or cheap feel.
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Treble varies with source and tuning. Better reviews found enough sparkle, while harsher reviews said the top end sounded dull, tinny, or messy at extremes.
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Transparency is serviceable rather than standout. It usually works well enough for awareness, but several reviewers heard boosted hiss, digital coloration, or limited naturalness.
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High-volume performance is divisive: some reviewers said it stays clean near max, while others heard distortion and worsening shortcomings as volume rises.
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Soundstage is usually described as modest rather than expansive, with only one reviewer calling it spacious and others hearing a constrained presentation.
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The look is functional but plain. Reviewers generally described the design as generic, understated, and mostly black, with comfort valued more than style.
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Tonal balance is the product's biggest sonic debate, ranging from balanced after tuning to muddy, bass-heavy, or uneven depending on reviewer and setup.
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Separation is inconsistent. Some reviewers could pick out layered instruments, but others said dense mixes blur together and lose detail.
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ANC is one of the weakest consensus areas. Most reviewers said it helps with low-frequency hums but struggles with voices and busy real-world environments. The app offers a useful spread of ANC-related modes, including ambient and wind options, though mode naming and effectiveness are not universally praised.
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The included USB-C cable is a common complaint because it is very short, and one reviewer also found it thick and awkward for wired listening.
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Accessories are sparse. Multiple reviews noted the absence of a case or pouch, and the short charging cable does little to offset the bare-bones bundle.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Over-Ear Headphones, this product is below average in Included accessories, Design and Aesthetics, Instrument separation.
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included accessories | 2.2 | 3.9 | -1.7 |
| Design and Aesthetics | 3.1 | 4.3 | -1.2 |
| Instrument separation | 3.0 | 4.2 | -1.2 |
| Active noise cancellation | 2.9 | 3.8 | -0.9 |
| Build quality | 3.3 | 4.1 | -0.8 |
| Cable quality | 2.5 | 3.5 | -1.0 |
| Soundstage width | 3.1 | 4.0 | -0.9 |
| Sound quality | 3.5 | 4.2 | -0.7 |
FAQ
Is the sound good without EQ?
Usually not at its best. Several reviewers said the default tuning is bass-heavy, muddy, or flat, and that the EarFun app is important if you want a better-balanced sound.
How effective is the ANC?
It is helpful with low-frequency noise such as fans, engines, and HVAC hum, but most reviewers said it does not suppress voices or busy public spaces especially well.
Are these comfortable for long sessions?
Yes. Comfort is the most consistent strength in the review set, with repeated praise for the soft pads, light weight, and easy all-day fit.
Is the app worth installing?
Yes. The app adds the custom EQ, hearing-based tuning, firmware updates, multipoint settings, and ANC mode controls that many reviewers considered essential.
Does wired mode improve the sound?
It depends on the reviewer. USB-C wired playback is supported, and one reviewer thought it sounded much better wired, while another said wired mode made the sound worse.
Consider This Instead
If you want better Design and Aesthetics
Choose Gadhouse Wesley Retro Headphones. It scores 4.9 vs 3.1 for Design and Aesthetics, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Active noise cancellation
Choose SONY WH-1000XM6 Headphones. It scores 4.7 vs 2.9 for Active noise cancellation, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Cable quality
Choose JLab JBuds Lux ANC Wireless Headphones. It scores 4.5 vs 2.5 for Cable quality, with a 3.6 overall score.
Overall Top Over-Ear Headphones Alternatives
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