UGreen Max5c

Incredible Value ANC Headphones at a Budget Price

The UGreen Max5c stands as a very decent bargain in the world of ANC headphones. Sometimes available for as little as $30 during sales, these headphones deliver performance that defies their modest price tag especially if you utilise some of the presets to give you a more neutral response that any ANC headphone should have at this price. With a good sound profile, decent active noise cancellation, and comfortable design, the Max5c provides a compelling listening experience that makes it hard to believe the price point.

What makes the Max5c particularly impressive is not just its price, but the complete package – comfortable ear pads, good build quality, and effective ANC that, while not matching premium offerings, performs admirably for a budget headphone. For anyone looking to enter the world of ANC headphones without breaking the bank, the UGreen Max5c represents an almost unbeatable value proposition.

Unboxing and Build Quality

The UGreen Max5c comes in a simple yet attractive package that belies its budget-friendly positioning:

Opening the box reveals the headphones and accessories nestled inside:

The package includes:

• UGreen Max5c headphones
• USB-C charging cable
• 3.5mm audio cable
• Documentation

Taking the headphones out of the box reveals their clean design and build quality:

Despite its incredibly affordable price point, the Max5c features surprisingly good build quality. The headphones have a clean, modern aesthetic with a premium look that belies their budget price.

The cream color variant I purchased is particularly attractive, offering a refreshing alternative to the standard black headphones that dominate the market. The headphones are also available in other colors, providing options to match personal style preferences.

The headband features a comfortable padding and a solid extension mechanism that accommodates various head sizes:

The headband expansion mechanism is well-designed and feels durable:

Fit and Comfort

The UGreen Max5c excels in the comfort department, especially considering its price point. The ear cups feature soft, plush padding that creates a comfortable seal around the ears without applying excessive pressure.

The internal dimensions of the ear cups are generous enough to accommodate most ear sizes:

The headphones maintain a secure fit while remaining comfortable for extended listening sessions. I’ve worn them for several hours without experiencing significant discomfort or fatigue.

This is a very nice-looking headphone, tough to believe it given the price, sort of reminded me of the Sony design for their ANC headphones:

It is also very comfortable to wear for long periods:

The microphone placement and overall ear cup design contribute to both comfort and functionality:

Features and Controls

The UGreen Max5c comes equipped with a comprehensive set of controls that are mostly intuitively placed and easy to access. I actually prefer buttons to ’touch enabled surface’ that lots of premium ANC headphones use, as you can understand which button is which without accidentally triggering the wrong functionality.

The side of the ear cup houses the main control buttons:

Additional buttons for ANC control and volume adjustment are also conveniently placed:

Active Noise Cancellation

The Max5c offers surprisingly effective ANC for its price range. While it won’t match the performance of premium offerings from Sony or Bose, it does an admirable job of reducing ambient noise, particularly in the low-frequency range. This makes it effective at minimizing the drone of airplane engines, air conditioners, or public transportation noise.

Battery Life

Battery performance is solid, with up to 50 hours of playback time with ANC disabled and around 40 hours with ANC enabled. This is impressive for headphones in this price range and means you won’t have to worry about frequent charging during daily use or even on longer trips.

Connectivity

The Max5c supports Bluetooth 5.3, providing stable wireless connectivity with good range. It also includes a 3.5mm audio jack for wired connections when preferred or when the battery is depleted.

Sound Quality

For a budget ANC headphone, the UGreen Max5c delivers surprisingly good sound quality. The overall signature is slightly warm with a decent bass presence that doesn’t overwhelm the mids.

Bass

The bass response is punchy and present without being overly boomy. There’s enough low-end extension to give electronic and hip-hop tracks the necessary foundation, though audiophiles might find it slightly elevated compared to a neutral reference. For most casual listeners, the bass quantity will be satisfying without becoming fatiguing.

Midrange

The midrange is reasonably clear, though slightly recessed compared to the bass. Vocals come through with adequate clarity, and instruments maintain their presence in the mix. There’s a slight warmth to the lower mids that adds a pleasant character to male vocals and acoustic instruments.

Treble

The treble is well-controlled, avoiding the harshness or sibilance often found in budget headphones. Detail retrieval is decent for the price point, though not as refined as more expensive options. The high-frequency response is tuned to be inoffensive rather than analytical, making these headphones suitable for extended listening sessions.

Soundstage & Imaging

As expected from closed-back ANC headphones, the soundstage is somewhat intimate rather than expansive. Imaging is adequate, allowing for reasonable instrument separation, though complex orchestral pieces can become somewhat congested. For the intended use case and price point, the spatial presentation is entirely acceptable.

EQ Options and Sound Customization

One limitation of the UGreen Max5c is its fixed EQ settings compared to some competitors. The headphones offer a few preset EQ modes, but lack the detailed customization options found in the Earfun Wave Pro or especially the Edifier WB830_NC.

The available EQ presets include:

• Stock (default)
• Bass-boosted (not recommended)
• Jazz
• Classic

The Jazz preset offers the most balanced sound profile and is recommended for most listening scenarios. The stock tuning is decent but slightly bass-heavy, while the bass-boosted preset introduces too much low-end emphasis that can muddy the overall presentation.

While these presets provide some flexibility, users looking for more granular control over their sound signature might prefer the aforementioned competitors that offer app-based EQ customization.

Measurements

The frequency response measurements reveal the UGreen Max5c’s sound signature and how it compares to other headphones in its class and price range.

As shown in the graph, the Max5c (in its Jazz EQ setting) offers a reasonably balanced frequency response with a slight bass emphasis. When compared to more expensive options like the Sennheiser Accentum, Earfun Wave Pro, and Edifier WB830, the Max5c holds its own remarkably well considering the price difference.

The distortion measurements are impressively low for a budget headphone:

These measurements confirm what is heard in subjective listening - the Max5c delivers clean audio reproduction with minimal distortion, especially in the critical midrange frequencies.

Comparisons

UGreen Max5c vs. Earfun Wave Pro

The Earfun Wave Pro offers more detailed sound and better app-based EQ options, allowing for more precise sound customization. However, it typically costs significantly more than the Max5c. If sound customization is a priority and you’re willing to spend more, the Wave Pro is worth considering. Otherwise, the Max5c offers better value.

UGreen Max5c vs. Edifier WB830_NC

The Edifier WB830_NC represents a step up in overall refinement and sound quality, with more sophisticated tuning capabilities that allow it to be adjusted closer to the Harman target. However, it comes at a higher price point. The Max5c offers approximately 70-80% of the performance at a fraction of the cost.

Earcup Comparison

The physical design and ear cup size of the Max5c compares favorably with more expensive competitors, offering similar comfort levels despite the price difference.

Conclusion

The UGreen Max5c represents exceptional value in the budget ANC headphone market. While it lacks the refined sound customization options of more expensive competitors like the Earfun Wave Pro or Edifier WB830_NC, it delivers remarkably good sound quality, effective ANC, and comfortable design at an almost unbelievable price point.

For those who prioritize value and are willing to accept the limitation of fixed EQ presets, the Max5c is an easy recommendation. I purchased these headphones from AliExpress during a sale for just €30, and at that price, they exceed all reasonable expectations. The comfortable pads, decent sound quality, and effective ANC make these a 5-star pragmatic choice for budget-conscious consumers.

If you’re looking for your first pair of ANC headphones or a backup pair that won’t break the bank, the UGreen Max5c should be at the top of your list. They prove that good audio performance and useful features don’t have to come with a premium price tag.