Once considered a novelty, active noise cancelling in-ear monitors are more common now since many manufacturers started adding this cool feature to their affordable headphone products. Mixcder, a Shenzhen based company which is known for making inexpensive headphones, also released a new set of in-ear headphones with Active noise cancelling, and named them the Mixcder ANC-G5.

 
Packaging and accessories

 


 

 
 
The Mixcder ANC-G5 headphones come with extremely simple packaging. Open the box and you will find a carrying case, a user manual, and a warranty card.
 

 


 


 
The headphones and all the accessories can be found in the carrying case. There are a USB charging cable, two pairs of ear tips.
 

 
Design and build

 


 
The Mixcder ANC-G5 have plastic housings with metallic finish on top, which gives them a more premium feel. There are many ventilation holes on the housings, which can alleviate the pressure to your ear drums while there is a tight fit.
 

 

 
 
Like many in-ear headphones which are designed for sports activities, the Mixcder ANC-G5 has ear loops, which are designed to give users a more stabilized fit. In my personal experience, those ear loops did do their job in keeping the headphones in my ears, but they were not really as effective as the “shark fins” used on many Bose IEMs.
 
 


 
The nozzles of the in-ears are relatively short, so they won’t go too deep into your ears. Bad news for isolation, but great news for comfort.
 

 

 
 
The back sides of the in-ears are pretty big, and I think this design is more for beauty rather than usability.
 

 

 
 
The Y-split of these headphones is pretty large, as there are noise cancelling electronics and a Li-Po battery under the hood. You can also find an on/off switch for the ANC function as well as control for phone calls. On the left side of the Y-split is a Mini USB port, which allows you to charge the built-in battery.
 
 

 

 
 
However, in a modern world dominated by Micro USB ports and USB Type-C ports, the Mixcder ANC-G5 feature a 8-pin Mini USB port, which means you cannot charge those earphones with the charging cables for your smartphone, and that’s going be tricky if you need to travel often.
 

 

 
 
The cable is a combination of rubber and nylon. The wire above the Active Noise Cancelling Module is coated in rubber, while the wire below that module is coated in nylon. While the nylon coating is very effective in improving tensile strength and preventing tangling, it also increases the noise of friction. The tubing which connects with the housing has some memory and allows you to use the cable as an adjustable ear hook.
 

 

 
 
The build quality of these headphones is nice, but far from amazing. Although there are no sharp edges and sloppy construction, you can still see mold lines clearly.
 

 
Comfort and Isolation
 
 

 
The plastic in-ears of the Mixcder ANC-G5 are extremely light. Although the Y-split with an anctive noise cancelling module does add a lot of weight to these headphones, fortunately you can easily clip it to your clothes so that none of that weight will be distributed to your ears. Wearing them is relatively comfortable, and the loops can help keep the earbuds in your ears even when you are taking a light jog or doing exercises in the gym.
 
The isolation, even with a pair of right-size ear tips, isn’t really all that solid. Compared to iems such as the Monster Turbine and the 1more E1001 Tripe Driver, which can keep out 80% - 90% of the outside noise, the Mixcder ANC-G5 can barely seal out 60% of the outside noise. If you are walking on a road with relatively busy traffic, you have to turn the volume all the way up to actually prevent the noise from drowning the sound coming from these headphones. Thankfully, the selling point of this product is the active noise cancelling feature, which means you don’t have to solely rely on a tight seal to reduce the noise from the outside world.
 

 
Active Noise Cancelling
 


 
The active noise cancelling feature is a mixed bag. With the ANC Function enabled, the volume instantly becomes higher, low frequency noises are almost all gone. I remember running on a treadmill in the gym with the Mixcder ANC-G5 in my ears, I could barely hear any noise coming from the machines and the fans. And when I entered the locker room, it almost felt like I was the only person in the room even though there were four people taking showers 2-3 meters away from me.
 
However, when it comes to high frequency noises such as human voices, birds singing and cicada chirping, the ANC feature isn’t very effective in blocking them. I could still hear old women talking loud and clear on a bus from where I live to the tennis court and, sometimes the ANC function even intensifies certain sound from the outside world.
 
With that said, the active noise cancelling feature still offers more pros than cons, and allows me to better concentrate on the audio that I am listening to with minimum interference from the surroundings.
 

 
Sound

 
Tested tracks:
Beyonce – Daddy Lessons (mp3@320kbps)
Alicia keys – Unthinkable (FLAC)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Let’s Eat (mp3@320kbps)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – White Privilege(mp3@320kbps)
Justin Timberlake – Mirrors (FLAC)
Maroon 5 – Harder to Breathe (FLAC)
Gavin DeGraw – Fire (APE)
DNCE – Cake by the Ocean (mp3@320kbps)
Demi Lovato – Cool for the Summer (APE)
Snow Patrol – Run (FLAC)
Emeli Sande – Clown (APE)
Drake – Controlla (mp3@320kbps)
G-Eazy - Calm Down (mp3@320kbps)
Nick Jonas – Chains (FLAC)
 
 
 
Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G3, Huawei P9 Lite, iriver U100

 

 
 
The overall sound quality of the Mixcder ANC-G5 is good, but not impressive, and the sound profile is more suited for bass heads than audiophiles. These headphones can be extremely loud, much louder than I would ever need them to be, but the sound is not well-balanced, the bass still dominates the entire spectrum.
 
Bass response is very good and extends pretty low in the lower frequencies. You can clearly hear it rumble and never seems to wobble in lower notes. However, it lacks the definition of higher-end headphones such as my Bose Freestyle and Monster Turbine.
 
Most budget headphones tend to compromise the mids for more bass punch, but the mids of the Mixcder ANC-G5 is better than average. It is clean and well positioned. Male vocals sound smooth and extremely right, higher mids seems to be quite fluid, as well. However, the higher mids is a little over-exaggerated, music sounds thin, and female vocals are sometimes harsh and fatiguing. The bass also sometimes bleeds into the lower mids and certain details in the midrange can sound subdued.
 
The treble has pretty decent extension, and isn't shrill or overwhelming. But I wouldn’t really call it smooth or natural, either. The details are not particularly refined, and separation isn’t as crisp as I would have liked. Also, these headphones can sound unpleasantly metallic while you crank up the volume to a relatively high level.
 
The soundstage of the ANC-G5 is surprisingly good. Most of the time I can feel myself being surrounded by the sound. It's not on par with many higher priced headphones, but I can still pick out where the sounds are originating from. Lots of of cheaper iems tend to sound very 2-dimensional at times, like the sound is only coming from Left/Right channels. These are totally the opposite and you can clearly tell where the singers and instruments are positioned.
 

 
Battery Life

 
The built-in rechargeable Li-Po battery is on board to power the active noise cancelling function, and it can last very long on a full charge. In my battery rundown test, the ANC feature worked for 8 consecutive hours. Given that it only needs to be enabled in certain environment, you won’t need to charge it very often.
 

 
Conclusion

 
Priced at $59.99 on Amazon, the Mixcder ANC-G5 are marketing towards people who need headphones with noise cancelling but are on a tight budget. They look nice, sound good, and have decent build quality, the ANC function works very well, too. However, they are not really the cheapest on the market right now. Cheaper options include the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23 QuietPoint ($49), the August EP720 ($39.75), the KIROBO Active Noise Cancelling Headphones ($38.99). Since I haven’t tested any of them myself, I can’t tell whether they offer more value than the Mixcder ANC-G5. The only other noise cancelling IEMs I tested were the Bose Quiet Comfort 20 Acoustic, which definitely bettered the ANC-G5 in almost every aspect, but the $299 price tag could easily put people off. 

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the ANC-G5, a budget active noise canceling (ANC) in-ear earphone from Mixcder.
 
Noise canceling earphones are an intriguing, niche aspect of the hobby for me. They nearly always seem to sacrifice sound quality to make your listening experience more pleasurable in areas where standard earphones would be significantly compromised. The UE6000 was my first noise canceling product, but this feature's application seemed to be used more as a built in amplifier to make them sound more exciting, with some minor noise reduction being a secondary benefit. Next up was the Sony MDR-NC13, an earphone that offered barely enough noise reduction ability to make the numerous ergonomic compromises worthwhile.
 
When Mixcder showed up in the forums looking for reviewers for their new ANC-G5 model, I jumped at the opportunity. My experience thus far with noise canceling earphones from larger, more established brands had been average at best, and I was curious to see what Mixcder could bring to the table at a price that would be fairly accessible and enticing for consumers.
 
Did the ANC-G5 meet my expectations? It certainly did, so let's find out why.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Grace and Mixcder for providing a review copy of the ANC-G5 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Mixcder or any other entity.
 
The ANC-G5 can be purchased through a variety of different Amazon regions (69.99 on Amazon.ca, 59.99 on Amazon.com).
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an XDuoo X3, HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
While the ANC-G5's packing is minimalist, it comes across as very clean and professional.
 
The simple black box has adorned on the front in Gold writing the brand and model, emphasizing that within you will find your new "active noise canceling in-ear headphone". On the sides Mixcder ANC-G5 is printed, and on the rear is a sticker displaying the product specifications and features in six different languages. There is not a whole lot going on, and I like that. Oft times packages are plastered with images and color, screaming "Buy me, I'm awesome!" Mixcder's packaging feels premium to the touch and is much more subtle, letting the ANC-G5 do the talking.
 
Lifting the lid I was greeted by a User Manual and a Golden Card. The Golden Card outlines Mixcder's warranty, reviewer/user, and product programs. Underneath these two items cushioned by a foam cutout was the ANC-G5's excellent hard clamshell case.
 
Pulling out the case and opening it reveals the ANC-G5 itself, a USB charge cable, and additional medium and large silicone tips sealed in their own individual bags. The small tips come preinstalled. I really like the included tips as they're not the same generic green ones that come with countless earphones right now. They are made from a very flexible silicone that seals exceptionally well, or at least it does for me. The USB cable, however, makes me scratch my head.
 
The standard for mobile products right now seems to be micro USB, but Mixcder went with a much less common Mini 8 pin connector. I have a ton of gadgets, none of which use Mini 8 pin cables, and I'm guessing this will be the same for many of you. It's a good thing the included case is more than spacious enough inside to carry the ANC-G5 and all included accessories.
 
While the packaging and accessories are all quite basic, the quality is there and impressions are positive.
 

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Design, Build and Comfort:
 
The ANC-G5 utilizes a half-earbud form factor, making the most of the large 14.5mm driver. The nozzle protrudes from the housing at less of an angle than most earphones I've tried with this design, and is very short. The nozzle also takes on an oblong ovular shape, similar to that found on the Panasonic HJE-120. I find that ergonomically, it works well in tandem with this form factor.
 
The housings are amply ventilated. You will find ports on the back plate, on the top behind the adjustable ear hooks, and a third hidden behind the grill located on the inside facing your ear. All this ventilation results in below average passive isolation. The housings are composed mostly of plastic but feature aluminum back plates on which channels are denoted through printed L and R markings. Fit and finish overall is good without any sharp edges or sloppy construction, though slight mold lines are present.
 
The cable is a mixed bag I feel, mostly due to the decision to use a cloth coating on the lower half. In my experience cloth cables are noisy and fray, sometimes very early in their lifespan. The ANC-G5's cloth section is already showing some wear at common bend points near the jack and where it enters the y-split. Above the y-split is a more traditional rubber-coated section that leads into flexible rubber tubing as you near the housings. This tubing allows the cable to be used as an adjustable ear hook, sliding up and down through a notches in the housings to help guarantee a secure fit. Overall I found cable noise, or microphonics, to be reasonably managed and not overly intrusive.
 
The y-split doubles as a housing for the noise-canceling electronics, battery, and call controls. Despite the size, it is fairly light, especially compared to the housing found on the Sony MDR-NC13. Most of the housing is a smooth slab of plastic, though the front uses a nicely coated strip of aluminum. The call control button depresses with a satisfying click after just the right amount of pressure being applied. The on/off switch for the active noise canceling feature slides with reasonable tactile resistance. This makes it clear when it is in the one and off positions, reinforced by a blue LED that lights up when ANC has been activated. The clip on the back is fairly large with sharp teeth around the rim and a strong clamping force. This allows the y-split to be securely fastened to your clothing with little worry it will slip off. It would have been nice to see a chin slider included, but this omission is somewhat easy to overlook due to how well the ear hooks work.
 
I found the ANC-G5 to be a very comfortable earphone. The half-earbud design forces a shallow insertion depth allowing the earphone to unobtrusively sit in your outer ear. The ear hooks can cause uncomfortable pressure points, though this can easily be alleviated by carefully extending them to lightly hook into the upper edges of your inner ear. For the most secure fit you will want them to press tighly into this area, sacrificing some comfort for stability. The weight of the y-split is negated through the proper use of the shirt clip preventing it from tugging at the earphone housings. If for whatever reason you are unable to clip it somewhere, the weight does eventually become noticeable.
 
The battery was over halfway charged when they first arrived, and it took about six hours to deplete it. Charging to fully from my laptop took around two hours. From a full charge the ANC-G5 lasted just over eight hours. Mixcder's claimed two hour charge time and eight hour play time seem to be right on the mark.
 
Overall I feel the ANC-G5 is a well designed product. The materials chosen seem durable, are aesthetically pleasing, and are price appropriate. Minus the potential for discomfort caused by the ear hooks, the ANC-G5 is very comfortable and easy to fit and seal in your ear. The media controls work well and are easy to locate and use without looking at them. The choice to use cloth for the lower half of the cable is a bit of a misstep I feel, but that may be more of a personal preference thing.
 

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Performance:
 
In this section, I am going to be covering both ANC performance and sound quality as I feel they are intrinsically tied together. Listening to the ANC-G5 critically in the quiet and comfort of your home doesn't make sense to me, as it defeats the purpose of a product like this. This is a product meant to be used in noisy environments, and I feel it has been tuned to suit such circumstances. Let's start with why.
 
The ANC-G5 is tuned with a fairly large mid-bass hump. Listening to them critically in a quiet environment, this hump is intrusive and makes them sound boomy and bloated. Treble extension and detail is decent, and their midrange is clear and fairly forward with some interference from the mid-bass. Sub-bass extension could be better, but I find myself saying that often with earphones using large drivers like this. Their overall sound is warm, energetic, and lightly v-shaped. While they're not stellar performers, they are pretty smooth and quite fun and musical sounding, only needing a bit of refinement to soften up some rough edges.
 
I find that in noisy areas the aspect of sound most hindered is usually bass, so when tossing them into a loud environment this mid-bass heavy tuning begins to make sense. Boosting the mid-bass compensates for any loss, especially when the ANC-G5 has poor isolation and noise reduction abilities with ANC off. Adding ANC knocks out the ambient background chaos and just enough noise is let in passively to counter the mid-bass hump.
 
With ANC on, I didn't notice a huge shift in sound quality, but there were some minor changes to note. For one, I thought the ANC-G5 became more focused. Treble and bass tightened up and the midrange became more apparent balancing out the signature somewhat. Maybe these observations were a placebo resulting from the accompanying boost in volume that comes with turning on ANC, but dropping the volume back down netted the same feelings and observations.
 
Throughout the week, I had the chance to check out the ANC-G5 in a number of situations and locations. These were my observations.
 
City Use: ANC on was wonderful for deadening a city’s typical ambient background noise. The cacophony of sounds that blend together to makes cities seemingly always alive disappears the moment the ANC switch is flipped, leaving only tire noise, muffled bugs (crickets, cicadas), and deep engine noise, such as diesel trucks. It's a very serene and somewhat surreal experience, as my mind was constantly search for and expecting more noise. It's enough to allow you to shut off and relax. Sitting there on a park bench watching the world silently slip by (no music playing) was very peaceful.
 
Workplace: With ANC on, the blended voices of 100 busy call centre employees became muffled, the whirring fans of my computers and those nearby died out. Left was only the clacking keyboards and voices of myself and those around me. It was not perfectly silent but as with my park bench experience, the standard call centre drone was nullified and replaced with a somewhat serene soundscape peppered with select noises.
 
In a Vehicle: The ANC-G5 succeeded in drowning out tire and wind noise, allowing me to lay my head back, enjoy the drive, and eventually slip into a light sleep. Engine noise was dulled, but the voices of those in the car remained clear.
 
In the Wild: Not a standout if I am to be honest. The forest is already a fairly quiet and serene place, and the types of low frequency noises the ANC-G5 excels at cutting out were not present. Tuning on the ANC didn't do much at all, until I went to the beach. The low roar of waves was completely cut out, leaving only the trailing splashes. Given how calming and serene crashing waves can be, I can't imagine any reason why you would want to cut those sounds out.
 
Wind noise: With ANC off, I found the ANC-G5 dealt with wind noise fairly well. The angled edge running down the front of the earphone worked to soften the effects of wind rushing over the body of the earphone. With ANC on, wind noise was greatly exaggerated leading me to believe the outermost or topmost vent contains the microphone that enables the G5 to mute ambient noise so effectively.
 
The combination of limited natural isolation and good low frequency noise cancellation abilities makes the ANC-G5 a fantastic earphone for every day, out of the house use. I found this combination allowed me to listen to music clearly, but still let in important auditory queues such as voices and some tire noise, keeping me safe while walking about. In a workplace environment the minor passive isolation let me hear my colleagues, but the ANC drowned out the usual background drone that can be tiring and invasive.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
Sony MDR-NC13 (~75.00 USD): The NC13 doesn't stand a chance against Mixcder's offering. Material quality falls short with the ANC-G5 which uses more premium plastics and a much better cable. The j-cable on the NC13 is manageable, but strain relief is lacking and it tangles as if it was meant to be a positive feature.
 
Noise-canceling on the NC13 falls short as well. It seems to reduce similar frequencies, but not anywhere near to the same extent. It also takes a few seconds to kick in, while the ANC-G5's cancellation takes effect near simultaneously with the switch being flicked. The NC13's housing is slightly more comfortable since it orients the driver perpendicular to your ear, similar to something like Sony's own XB90, but it lacks any stabilizing features and is easy to tug out of place. The ANC-G5 also sounds more impressive with a cleaner, more detailed presentation and significantly more texture across the board. The NC13 is more balanced, but extension at either end is poor and they come across veiled.
 
The ANC-G5 clearly stands as the superior product with more thought put into it's design and functionality.
 
UE6000 (Prices vary wildly): The UE6000 and ANC-G5 are very different products, most notable is that one is a headphone, one an earphone. They also show off markedly different design philosophies with the UE6000 featuring a modern, edgy design that draws your attention. Where their similarity lies is that they are both ANC products.
 
The UE6000's signature is darker and bassier with ANC feeling like more of an afterthought, though it isn't useless. It can be used to very mildly tone down ambient noise, but the electronics are best used as an amplifier to boost volume, bass, and treble making the UE6000 a very fun and exciting listen. You want to keep the volume up because unlike on the ANC-G5, the UE6000's ANC hardware hisses noticeably when activated. Passive isolation is much better than on the ANC-G5.
 

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Suggestions for Improvement:
 
Move the ANC microphone to a location that is less affected by wind. These would have been an excellent earphone for running since they do not block certain sounds, enabling you to listen to media while remaining attentive to your surroundings. However, the wind noise with ANC on is exaggerated too much to make them suitable for this activity. With ANC off the passive isolation means you will probably be forced to crank the volume to unsafe listening levels.
 
Swap out the cloth cable for a more traditional cable. The cloth looks good and feels nice, but it is already starting to fray and does not leave me confident that it will last.
 
A simple chin slider would be a nice addition for those that enjoy them. For me personally this was a non-issue but I know that this feature is very important for some, especially if they have fitment issues with in-ear earphones and need to slider to help ensure a secure fit.
 
Overall:
 
The ANC-G5 comes across as a carefully planned and well-designed product. They are not suited to in-home or critical listening, but I don't think that was what Mixcder had in mind for them.
 
The blend of below-average passive isolation and strong low-frequency active noise canceling allows them to excel in urban environments where you want to reduce extraneous noise without drowning out the world and important auditory queues. As a second earphone to use when traveling between destinations, the ANC-G5 is near perfect. Leave the critical listening to something that was designed with sound quality as it's primary focus.
 
I have no problem recommending the ANC-G5 as they've been an absolute pleasure to live with this past week. The ANC works well, they're solidly built, and while a little rough around the edges they produce a fun, musical sound that you can enjoy in noisy environments. If on the lookout for an inexpensive noise canceling earphone, Mixcder's entry into this segment should definitely be on your radar.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums
 
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Culprate - Deliverance
Various drum and bass mixes from SubSil3nt and Going Quantum Podcast

The ANC-G5 active noise canceling headphones can be had from Amazon for 60 USD. How does it compare to the number one noise canceling headphones, the Bose QuietComfort QC20i?
 

Comfort

 
The ANC-G5 is surprisingly comfortable. The design of the ear tip is oval in shape and it does not fully insert into the ear canal. There is a fine balance of not having a very tight seal for comfort, but have a good enough seal to eliminate sound leakage. The Bose’s design is great for that. The ANC-G5’s tip is a lesser quality soft rubber, but never the less it works well. The earpiece is not too heavy. It has a similar designed wire-as-ear-loop as the Bowers & Wilkins C5. I find that the ear loop is simply not necessary, not I can get it to actually fit into my ear. So I just kept the loop small and the headphone stays in anyway. In terms of comfort, the ANC-G5 is as good as the Bose. I do worry that the ear tip rubber eventually will degrade. It is very thin. It is also oval in shape because it is stretched into the oval shape by the port on the earpiece. Compare to the Klipsch headphones for example, the Klipsch ear tips are oval as molded.
 
There is a minor annoying with the ANC-G5. The controller “box” is at the headphones end. That means the weight of the controller is pulling on the headphones all the time. I have no choice but to clip it onto my shirt. Compare to the Bose controller box, which is at the very end of the wire, on the plug end. I can just leave it in my pocket or on my desk.
 

Noise Canceling Performance

 
Since this is a pair of noise canceling headphones, the most important factor is how well does it actively cancel environmental noise? I tested it three different ways. I tested it against a brown noise generator (https://www.noisli.com/). The ANC-G5 cancels out the brown noise without problem, as good as the Bose. I tested it against a coffee house background noise generator ( https://coffitivity.com/ ). The ANC-G5 successfully blocked out most of the background noise and effectively made the human voices more audiable.
 
I then tested the ANC-G5 in my day to day office environment. The headphones successfully cancelled out the low frequency hum of our office AC, leaving me with a nice and quiet workspace.
 

Sound Quality

 
I tested the sound quality mostly with the noise canceling feature switched on as that should be the normal mode of use. I fed the headphones from my retina Macbook Pro running iTunes. I largely listen to jazz and vocals. After burning in the headphones for 24 hours (I ran the burn in without the active noise cancelation), a listen to Autumn Leaves by Partricia Barber. Her vocal against the deep double base comes through cleanly. While I don’t expect it to reproduce the very low notes perfectly, it did an more than adequate job. I moved onto Vienna Teng’s Eric’s Song, a track with very clean vocal against piano. I can hear her breathing in between notes. Moving onto Brandi Carlile’s Wasted, more of a rock track - female vocals against piano, drums, electric guitars and precussions. The soundstage is good but it is noticeably compressed compares to higher end headphones. (OK maybe it is not fair to compare it to a pair of RS-1 driven thru an amp).
 
Overall I definitely enjoy listening to my styles of music as I work in the office. I also tested using it for two Skype calls. The microphone works fine as well.
 

Design Issues

 
Besides that the controller is at the headphone end as mentioned before, the only thing that annoys me is that it uses a micro-A USB connector for charging. All other non Apple equipment I have uses micro-B USB connectors. This means that I cannot use the various charging stations that I have setup both at work and at home to charge this pair of headphones. I have to use their charging cable.
 

Battery Test

 
After completely ran down the batteries, I charged and ran down the headphones twice to time the charging and usage. Both times the headphones charged to full charge in about 1 hour 30 minutes. The discharge ran way beyond 11 hours both times, however I do wonder if the battery life will be shorter if it was doing heavier noise cancelation in an noisier environment than my house.
 

Conclusion

 
For the money this pair of headphones is a no brainer purchase if you need active noise cancelation. The Bose QC20i is slightly better in all features, but it is four times as expensive. If you must have iOS/OSX volume controls on the headphones than you have to look else where or wait for Mixcder to come out with an Apple compatible version. Otherwise it is affordable, sounds great, comfortable, and most importantly cancel background noise well.
 
Note that while I received this unit from the distributor for review, the opinions expressed are completely my own.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:
 
Together with a few others, I got the chance to try out the Mixcder ANC-G5 active noise cancelling earphone. I like to thank Ausdom and Grace for generously provided me with a sample. It’s been in my ears for a few days now and I have to say I’m quite satisfied with them. While not being perfect, they provide consumer friendly sound and active noise cancelation for a friendly price tag. The Mixcder ANC-G5 is sold from different places, including amazon, for around $60.
 

 
 
Disclosure:
 
After applying to the review thread I received the ANC-G5 free of charge. I was asked to write my opinion about these IEMs. Usually I buy a product and review them according to how they suit my personal preferences. In this instance however, I will try to keep things more general since this review is about the product and not about my personal audio adventures. The rating is based on the whole product as a combination of ANC and IEM, and not solely on audio quality alone.
 
Setup: Straight out of my ZTE Axon mini smartphone as well as my laptop combined with the ZuperDAC or Dragonfly v1.5. Stock Tips size M.
Music: Spotify Extreme & 44.1khz/16bit Flac.
Burn in: 24 hours on the cooker before listening.
My acknowledged bias: Music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).
 
 
Review:

Specifications:
Microphone Unit: Φ4.0*1.5mm
Directivity: Omni-directional
Speaker Diameter: Φ14.3±0.02mm
Charging Port: Mini 8P 5V/1A
Battery Size: 90mah
Charging Time: About 2 hours
Running Time: About 8 hours noise reducing
Operating Temperature: -10˚C-45˚C

Package Contents:
- ANC in-ear headphone
- Carrying case
- Mini 8P USB charging cable
- S/M/L Size tips
 
The whole package is well packed and come with a very decent carrying case, very suitable as a gift. The nozzle has an oval shape, but this did not form any problems when changing the stock tips. What I did find very curious however is the choice for a Mini 8P charging port. This requires you to always use the provided cable, while it would be much easier and convenient to go for the general available micro USB standard. Luckily the battery does last well over the claimed 8 hours and charging takes little time.
 

 

 

 
 
 
Build, design and fit:
 
The build quality and design is very decent. There is clearly someone with an eye for detail working at Ausdom. From the brided cable finish to the metal accents, it feels good and sturdy. The only letdown is the on/off slider at the ‘console’, which feels a little flimsy and wobbly. The console itself is quite heavy, but the clip does resolve this issue.
I had no problems getting a decent fit and seal. The securing ear-loops do a fantastic job securing the IEMs during bike rides or in the gym. The loops do press uncomfortable to my antihelix after a while, so I can’t use them for too long.    
 
 
Active Noise Cancelation:
 
The Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) is the main star of the show. The Mixcder ANC-G5 does a good job in blocking background hum and rumble. At my current workplace, there is big air conditioner and ventilation duct in the ceiling, which produce a loud constant hum. When I turn on the Active Noice Cancelation function, the sound of both devices largely disappears. The only thing that remains is a soft breezing sound. Likewise, the rumble and bouldering of a train is largely removed. This allows commuters to listen to music with a lower volume, an option I strongly admire and recommend. It does not however filter higher frequencies that well. Voices and keyboard strokes are not canceled out that much. If you have a nagging boss or a blogger sitting next to you, these IEMs won’t save you. 
With the ANC turned off, the volume drops a bit, luckily the sound itself is not altered that much. The isolation is quite bad without ANC turned on. A missed opportunity for Ausdom for taking home the noise blocking trophy. While being a commuters delight with ANC on, they are quite useless in noisy places when you run out of battery.
 


 
 
Sound:
 
Pleasantly surprised here; while not being the most technically capable, the tuning is certainly not bad. Nothing sounds distorted or wrong.  I was afraid a sub $60 ANC IEM would not focus on sound at all. They are clearly designed for the average consumer who generally like a big bass. The biggest concessions have been made in the resolution and soundstage area, which is the right choice in my opinion. As a consequence, they do show their weaknesses with busy rock or jazz parts. Pop, EDM and urban actually sound very enjoyable through these IEMs.
 
Treble: Very well balanced. A bit smooth, while remaining true to source. Cymbals sound enjoyabele and alive without sounding piercing, sibilant or coloured. John Wassons – Caravan could do with more detail on top. Even with the ZuperDAC they sound a bit simple and veiled. When switching to pop music, highs sit excellently in the mix and hold their own. What I did notice is that the highs turn a little more ‘metallic’ like when ANC is turned on. This is however very minor and only detectable at high volumes.
 
Mids: Clearer than I expected. Male voices might be the strongest point here, full and powerfull. Female voices are a bit recessed compared to their manly counterpart. Samples and sound effects sound clear and well positioned. Despite the small soundstage and lack of spaciousness, the sound does show the ability so surround you. Piano’s and synthesizers sound full and bodied; ‘Lionel Hampton – Love for sale’ sounds fun and very enjoyable. The lack of resolution is more noticeable in rock music. The snare drum is the biggest snitch in the mids, it easlily reveals the limited depth and detail. Distortion and overdrive guitar effects make the sound muddy. The intrusion from the midbass doesn’t help either.
 
Bass: Far too much for my personal taste, but the average consumer might appreciate it. Despite being a bit wooly, the bass digs deep and packs a decent punch, which makes for a ‘fun’ sound. Some rock and jazz songs sound misbalanced due to the overpowering bass. Again, pop, EMD and urban are quite enjoyable through this sound signature. ‘Kelis – Trick me’ and ‘James Blake – Limit to your love’ are the cause my eardrum are still shaking. While having a solid sub-bass, the mid-bass is somewhat bloated and creeps up to the mids. I wish the bass would do a step back and offer more control.
 
Compared to the TTPOD T1-E + Mixcder ANC-G5 tips (around $35):
 
The TTPOD T1-E is the closest I have to the Mixcders sound signature. The T1-E offers a great passive isolation with a tad less bass. It doesn’t have the bass punch and depth of the Mixcder ANC-G5, but the bass doesn’t leak into the mids. It also has a bit wider soundstage and more resolution. I consider the sound quality of the TTPOD T1-E to be better. While the T1-E does block humming sounds, it doesn’t filter out train/bus rumbling that much. The Mixcder is the better choice if you want to limit the music volume while commuting.
 
 
Conclusion
 
You do not buy these IEMs solely for their sound quality. For less than $60 you’ll get an active noise cancellation IEM which does a great job filtering out humming and rumbling. Voices and higher pitched sounds are however not filtered that much and passive isolation is subpar. Fit and finish is nice, although passive isolation is lacking. Very consumer orientated sound with a big dominating bass. Mids and highs are very decent considering the price and features. While not for the average Head-Fi’er, I would recommend these headphones to commuters who listen to pop, urban and EMD. Rock and jazz listeners might not appreciate these IEMS and should look further.
 
 
Tl;dr: Very affordable active noise cancelling with a big bass consumer sound signature. Very decent if that is what you are looking for. The lack of resolution and bloated mid-bass are their biggest cons.

I would like to thank Mixcder for the opportunity to review their new Automatic Noise Canceling (ANC) G5 in ear headphones. I submitted my info in a review request thread and luckily was chosen to participate and subsequently sent a free review sample. I am not affiliated with Mixcder in any way and this review is simply my honest opinion.
 
 
Included Accessories:
 

1. In Ear Headphones with inline rechargeable control
2. Small Carrying Case
3. 3 Sets of Ear Tips (S/M/L)
4. 8 Pin Mini USB Charge Cable
5. Instruction Booklet

 
Build Quality and General Usage Observations:
 
The headphones came in a sturdy cardboard box with foam inserts. The carrying case houses phones, tips and charge cable. I at first thought the cable was proprietary. However, after some Googling, I found that it isn’t proprietary. But, it isn’t typical though. Was expecting micro-USB.
 
The overall build quality is above average. The cloth covered cable from the ANC control box to the straight jack is sturdy and tangle resistant. It has some memory but isn’t annoying like some other sets I’ve had. The wires that go to the ear pieces themselves are rubber and also seem to be good quality.
 
I had no issues whatsoever with comfort. Even with the included stock ear tips which is very rare for me. They were used on four(4) separate flights and I hardly noticed they were there.
 
The ANC control box has a clip on the back of it that attaches to ones shirt or lapel. The distance from the box to each ear piece isn’t that far so I found myself attaching it higher rather than lower. A couple of more inches would have been nice.
 
Would also mention that the ear piece nozzles are oval and are quite large. The stock ear tips did fit, but it took some work. Didn’t feel the need to try any other tips.
 
I’ve got to give kudos to the battery life. One charge lasted on testing sessions as well as all the aforementioned flights. The manual lists it as 8 hours for continuous noise canceling and I believe it.
 
Sound Quality:
 
I’m not even going to discuss sound with ANC turned off. Who buys a set of ANC phones for listening with no ANC right? I will say that there was very little difference in sound between the two modes. The main difference was an increase in loudness when turning on ANC.  Take this with a grain of salt because very little listening was done with ANC off for this review.
 
Bass
 
I found the bass to be elevated with decent impact. However, to my ear it lacks definition and is somewhat “murky”. Would like to have heard a tighter bass with more sub-bass and less mid-bass. This probably would not be a problem for the average Joe consumer.
 
Mids
 
The mids take a step back from the bass and treble. Vocals have decent tonality but are not what I would call natural. There seems to be some grittiness or harshness in the mids all the way up to the treble regions (having a hard time putting my finger (or ear lol) on it).
 
Treble
 
As mentioned previously with the mids, the treble can sound somewhat harsh. I would consider it rough around the edges. Definitely not a smooth, relaxing listen. It does have decent extension and doesn’t roll off too early.
 
Other Sound Observations
 
I would consider the ANC-G5 detail retrieval capabilities to be marginal at best. Some of my other IEMs (e.g. KC06A, D2002) do a much better job in that department and also have better overall clarity. However, we are talking about an IEM that’s primarily for ANC usage. In that regard, it’s perfectly acceptable. There is very little noise with ANC turned on and music off which is a plus.  Instrument separation is good (not great).
 
ANC Functionality:
 
I consider ANC functionality to be the strong point of the ANC-G5. As mentioned previously, I used it on four separate flights ranging from 45 minutes to 2 hours in length each. I had no issues listening to music or watching movies. It did a good job cutting out the low rumbling noise of jet engines. However, higher pitched noises such as voices, crying babies, etc. came through with very little noise canceling. In my experience, this is fairly typical of all ANC phones. Passive isolation is very low. So turning on ANC is a must.
 
I compared the ANC capabilities of the G5 to my Audio-Technica ATH-23s (in ears) and my recently acquired over ear ATH-ANC9s. The G5 was slightly better at ANC than the ATH-23s which surprised me. However, it fell short when compared to the ANC9s.
 
The G5 did well with phone calls. Vocal quality and reception was good on both sides of the conversations.
 
Conclusion:
 
If you are looking for a budget friendly IEM that is comfortable, has decent sound quality and is good at ANC, then you need to consider the ANC-G5. If sound quality is your absolute top priority with ANC further down the list, then look elsewhere.  ANC functionality bumps it up to 3.5 stars.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
Notes: music testing was done using an Xduoo X3 with 320 Kbps MP3 files or FLAC files at moderate volumes.
 

 

 

 

 

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Preamble:

It was that one Head-Fi thread where Grace reached out and asked for ten people for a possible review of a headphone called “Mixcder ANC-G5”, a company (http://www.mixcder.com/) I haven’t heard of ever.
As it turns out the brand is relatively unknown, but is making inexpensive audio products as well as OEM products on order, and has got someone in their team who is in the audio and headphone industry for over 20 years – so there is a good amount of hope inside of me that the company has got products in their stable that are well tuned and sound halfway decent at least.
The reason why I mainly got attracted by the ANC-G5 is because this in-ear headphone in the rather lower price range has got an active noise cancelling module built in – the basic working principle of ANC is relatively simple and consists of a microphone and amplifier that instantaneously sends the exterior noise with inverted phase to the headphone and in sum, those inverted phase sound waves mix with the in-phase sound waves of the noise we are hearing and when done well, the sound waves eliminate each other and therefore the exterior noise isn’t heard anymore. As that is not as trivial as it sounds like, it only works best with static noise such as that from an air-plane or train.

While I don’t have experience with ANC headphones at the moment, I have listened to Bose Quiet Comfort headphones on various occasions and found them to work really well for eliminating noise in active mode. However as the ANC-G5 are in-ears, I am not sure whether for purely blocking out noise, a well-isolating passive headphone would have been possibly better than the active noise cancellation, but the review will show how the ANC-G5 fared (even in the lower price range, there are (however just a few) models like for example the UE200 which are entirely closed and isolate extremely well when correctly inserted).


Disclosure: After applying to the review thread run by Grace, I got selected as one of the reviewers for this headphone and then received the ANC-G5 free of charge in order to do an honest and unbiased review.


Technical Specifications:

Price: ~ $59.99
Acoustic System: Closed
Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
Talk Mode: Yes
Bluetooth: No
Volume Control: No
Control Compatibility: All device with 3.5mm audio jack
Driver Type: Neodymium Drivers
Speaker Diameter: 14mm
Frequency Response: 20 – 10,000 Hz
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Sensitivity: 96dB
Charging Time: 1.5-2 hours
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
Item Weight: 26g


Delivery Content:

The in-ears arrive in a black cardboard box with golden letters. Inside, on can find the manual, a warranty extension card, a really nice carrying case, three pairs of differently sized silicone tips, a charging cable and last but not least the in-ears themselves.
 

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Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

Just as the in-ears’ triangular faceplates and the stopper for the cable loops, the grey barrel of the 3.5 mm connector is made of metal but everything else is made of plastic, however the overall appearance and build quality is surprisingly solid with a nice metallic silver/grey finish.

The in-ears are rather on the larger side, with various vents in their bodies and a metallic screen on the inner side that covers something that looks like two differently sized vents. Overall, I wouldn’t be too surprised if one of those vents was actually a microphone for ANC, but who knows.
On the in-ear bodies, we can also find a loop for securing the in-ears in the ears. A comparable mechanism is used for the B&W C5 in-ears.
 

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The Y-split is quite large as it contains the electronics used for the ANC. It has got a switch for activating/deactivating the noise suppression, a small LED that indicates that the ANC is turned on, a button for taking phone calls, a charging port on the side as well as a clip on the back.
 

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The cable below the y-split is nylon-coated which might look nice, however it is very likely to fray over time, hence I am personally no big fan of this type of cable. Above the y-split, it is a standard rubber cable and quite flexible. Unfortunately a chin-slider is missing.
Not always found in this price range, strain relief is present on all transitions and quite good.
 

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Comfort, Isolation:

The in-ears are intended to be worn with the cables straight down. After insertion, one can use the adjustable loops to get a more secure fit in the ears, though I find the comfort and fit already to be really good without using them. Nonetheless, I would have wished a chin-slider was used, too.
Microphonics are unfortunately quite present when wearing the in-ears like this, but inserting the in-ears normally and then guiding the cables around my ears, cable noise is almost entirely gone.

Without activated ANC, noise isolation is below average and rather on the weaker side.

Active Noise Cancellation:

Quite as expected, the ANC worked really well with static low frequency noise such as the rotating fan from a computer or the water kettle and train noise. Higher frequency noise (writing on the keyboard, talking humans, clicking the mouse etc.) however remained pretty much unaffected.
Using the ANC in my office, the fan noise is completely blocked out and on the train, it is about entirely gone, too. However, I can still hear my keyboard and people talking. Be it a good or a bad thing – you decide. I judge it as being a neutral feature as low frequency noise is about entirely gone but you can still understand people talking to you. If you’re however out for an in-ear that isolates well over the whole frequency range, the ANC-G5 won’t be it as only the low frequencies are damped with activated ANC and you might be better off with a well-isolating closed body in-ear like the Logitech UE350.

Activating the ANC, the music gets louder by pretty much exactly 3 dB by the way. The frequency response however remains the same as before and I am not getting any artefacts from the ANC like for example hollow voices from people around me, which is a really good thing.

A positive thing to report is that with enabled ANC, there is just little added noise from the amp chip that is only slightly audible with no music playing at all.

Overall, I am quite positively surprised with the ANC but personally wish the passive noise isolation was somewhat better in the mids and treble.


Sound:

For listening, I mainly used the Shanling M2, my iPod Nano 7G as well as the LH Labs Geek Out IEM 100.
The largest included silicone tips were used for listening and the following impressions.
For critical listening, the ANC was turned off.

Tonality:

Big, very bassy, full and boomy is how I would describe the tonality in short.

Surprisingly, measurements and EQ counter-checking reveals that the lows are emphasised by “just” 12 dB at max (compared to a very flat in-ear like the Etymotic ER-4S), however they appear more present and boomier because the bass isn’t the quickest (more about that in the “Resolution” section) and because the area between 100 and 200 Hz is already pretty forward.

Down from around 700 Hz, the lows’ emphasis starts climbing more with the type of a hump than a straight line, with already quite a strong emphasis between 100 and 200 Hz, with the climax being reached just slightly above 100 Hz. The level can be kept upright down to 30 Hz and just slightly loses presence down to 20, however the overall sound appears overall much more midbass than sub-bass focussed.
The mids are overall somewhat overshadowed by the strong bass, however they are tonally not too much skewed and surprisingly just moderately on the mellower side. Overall, they are, quite to my surprise, tonally relatively balanced and clearly not too much on the warmer and fuller side.
Between 1 and 2 kHz, I can detect just a small dip doing sine sweeps, with an evenly rising level from 3 to 10 kHz and an even roll-off above 12 towards 16 kHz. So unlike some other in-ears in this price range, the treble is very even and evenly rising, however it does not really become bright at all with music because of the strong bass.

Personally, I think if the lows’ climax was set lower, the sound would be more natural and realistic, as because the lows are already very present in the upper bass, the lows are about always present and not only when needed. Just for future reference, I personally don’t have any problem at all with the pure amount of bass but slightly how and where it is emphasised.
And if the climax was in the lower midbass or even sub-bass, the tonality would be a pretty perfect v-shape with just the far ends of the frequency spectrum being emphasised.
This is not meant as big criticism at all but just as an idea, as there are (unfortunately) just extremely few in-ears in the lower price range that have a climax in the bass that is located really low.

Resolution:

You might have probably expected it, but one doesn’t mainly buy the ANC-G5 for its sonic qualities but for its noise cancelling.

Resolution therefore doesn’t reach the level one would expect at ca. $60, but assuming that the price is made half of the ANC and half of the IEMs, the value isn’t as bad anymore as it would have probably been if there was no noise cancelling but the full retail price, though it is still not great.
Let’s start with my main point of criticism here, the lows: regarding quality, I would have expected better here. The bass is rather boomy, spongy, slow and also a bit unrefined. It doesn’t wobble and drone too much but is something one would rather expect and tolerate coming from a $10 IEM. At least it doesn’t soften too much more with busy tracks and remains the same level of softness, though midbass and sub-bass are softer than the upper bass.
Enjoying a heavy bass from time to time myself, although being a neutrality-seeking person in most cases (for (semi-) stationary listening at least), somewhat more aridness in the lows would have been good for the overall sound quality.
In the highs, I would have also wished for a somewhat better differentiation and detail. The treble sounds overall rather one-noted and unrefined than differentiated to me.
In the mids, the level of details is okay. Neither too bad, nor too good. As with the bass and treble, they lack some differentiation, details and definition though.

Overall, I would say that the sound is more or less in the league of the KZ ATE with the Mixcder being somewhat inferior here and there, but also slightly better in a few areas.
The sound isn’t that bad that I would immediately start puking (I am very adaptive and flexible though), but it is nothing I would ever use for even slightly serious/concentrated listening either but rather for very un-serious background music and mainly phone calls. Without the ANC electronics, I think around $20 to 25 at max would be fair for the in-ears.
But again, one is mainly buying these in-ears for the active noise cancelling and the sound is just kind of like the cherry on top although not the tastiest one. And for casual, slow, easy radio and chart listening, the sound is still quite okay.

Soundstage:

The soundstage does not feel congested although it is definitely not the largest either. To my ears, it is a bit wider than deep, however not by much, though it is overall more oval than round.
Just like the overall sound, there could be a little more definition and separation overall for a more precise presentation, with the spatial impression being a bit foggy at times.

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In Comparison with other In-Ears:

KZ ATE black, non-bassy version with one vent:

As it seems, there is more than one variation of the ATE around. The one I have bought is the non-bass-heavy one with a small vent hole.

The ATE has got the less forward and better controlled, slightly quicker bass. However, the Mixcder’s sounds a little more detailed (in the lows, the ATE appears a little blunt at times).
In the mids, the ATE is warmer and fuller sounding, while the ANC-G5 is a little more detailed.
In the highs, the Mixcder is more present and brighter while the ATE sounds a little more differentiated and detailed here.
When it comes to soundstage, the ATE’s is a little smaller with a similar quality.

Overall, I would say that on the technical level, it’s pretty much a tie with the ATE having the somewhat more detailed/differentiated highs whereas the Mixcder sounds somewhat more refined in the mids.

Pai Audio DR1:

Besides the bass, the ANC-G5 has got the somewhat better and more realistic tonality in the midrange where the DR1 sounds somewhat muffled because of its sound tuning.
Both IEMs have got a comparable amount of bass with a comparable emphasis characteristic, but the Mixcder in-ear sounds subjectively quite a bit bassier because its bass sounds looser and not as controlled.
In the lows, the DR1 is tighter, quicker, more detailed and more arid. This is the most significant difference in terms of sound quality.
In the mids, the DR1 is also better resolving but the ANC-G5 sounds less muffled and airier because of its tonality.
In the treble, the ANC-G5 is brighter while both are comparably detailed here with just a slight edge towards the MR1 when rendering notes.
The Pai’s soundstage is larger both in terms of width as well as depth with a more precise instrument separation.


Conclusion:

Just as expected, the ANC works really well for static low frequency noise, blocking it out almost entirely. With non-static noise and especially in the mids and treble however, isolation could be better (for some, this could be a pro, while for others, this could be a con).
And while the active noise cancelling works really well and without any ghosting or interferences, the pure sound quality of the in-ears could be quite a bit better and more refined, so it should be rather seen as an extra, with the ANC being the main feature in my opinion.
So for those who are looking for inexpensive in-ears with active noise cancelling without looking for the best sound quality available for the price, the Mixcder ANC-G5 can still be a very considerable and solid product overall.

With a 60% sound/build quality for the price (47/100) to 40% ANC (85/100) weighting, I come to a result of 3.11 out of 5 possible stars.

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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

-Introduction-​

[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]It’s not often that I get to review active-noise-canceling tech. However, after hearing about the Mixcder ANC-G5, an earphone with noise canceling technology, I needed to check it out to see what all the hype is about.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]You can purchase the Mixcder ANC-G5 for $60 from Amazon here.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Disclaimer: This review is based upon a sample unit provided to me by a manufacturer in exchange for my honest opinion and un-edited words. I do not profit in any way from the writing of the review. I would like to thank Grace for providing me with this unit.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Preference and Bias: Before reading a review, it is worth mentioning that there is no way for a reviewer to objectively pass judgment on the enjoy-ability of a product: such a thing is inherently subjective. Therefore, I find it necessary for you to read and understand what I take a natural liking to and how that might affect my rating of a product.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, bass. The mids should be slightly less pronounced than the treble, but still ahead of the bass. I prefer a more bright upper range.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Source: The ANC-G5 was powered off of a Nexus 6P -> Creative Sound Blaster E3. All music was served as FLAC, ALAC, or as 320Kbps Mp3. I found the standard DAC/Amp inside my phone and PC to be adequate to drive the X1 at near-peak levels of quality, but I’ve chosen to use the E3 for consistency's sake.[/color]

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-Tech Specs-​

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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Speaker diameter: Ø14.3±0.02mm[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Frequency response: 20Hz-22KHz[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Impedance32Ω±15%S.P.L96±3dB[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]S.P.L at 1KHz[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Rated power: 50mW[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]That’s all I could find, which isn’t too helpful. The above specs were taken directly from the Mixcder official website.[/color]

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-Sound Signature-​

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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Sonic Impressions:[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]I did not notice any significant change is sound signature when Active Noise Cancellation was enabled. All test were done with Active Noise Cancellation ON.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Treble sounds a bit metallic and sparkly. This is very apparent in songs which use a lot of electronic effects and make use of high-hats. It really makes it hard to describe the ANC-G5 as Hi-Fi.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Vocals sound a little thin, and mids in general are hushed. Consequently, songs which make heavy use of the mid-range sound flat and unappealing.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The ANC-G5 sounds like it has a V-shaped sound signature, with some bass-boosting. However, the boost is limited to the mid-bass, as the Mixcder G5 has very mediocre extension both upwards and downwards. I heard almost nothing in the 100Hz-20Hz region.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]In terms on clarity, the ANC-G5 still scores in mediocrity. I detected distortion during my favorite test song, Throne, and generally found the sound to be unappealing.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Both male and female vocals sound thin, and slightly veiled. This is likely due to the receded mids.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Sound staging, as with most other aspects of the sound signature, mediocre. It shallow and narrow.[/color]

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-Packaging / Unboxing-​

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-Build-​

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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Construction Quality[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The ANC-G5 seems to be built pretty well. The cable is covered in a cloth from the 3.5mm jack up to the Y-splitter. The Y-splitter, controls, and driver housings are built from aluminum and have a semi-smooth finish to them. I was impressed with how good the controls looked on a $60 earphone like this.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The weird things start at the driver nozzle. It’s not a circle. It’s an oval with pointed ends, which makes it incredibly difficult to find eartips that fit it, as the ones which are included are, again, mediocre. Even if you do find a pair that “fits”, good luck actually fitting onto the nozzle. It took me over ten minutes to get the official eartips on.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The active noise cancellation does a good job removing constant sounds from the background, but ultimately fails to create a total silence, as the ANC-G5 will. Not. Seal. No matter what I tried, I could not create good isolation in my ear, making the active noise cancellation, the selling point of the ANC-G5, completely useless. I can still hear my fans, and I can still hear my keyboard, which isn’t the case on even the Penon IEM! An earphone that costs $10 (and often less)![/color]

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-Accessories-​

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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]As I mentioned earlier, the ANC-G5 does come with some extra eartips. Two extra sets, medium and large in size, are included, but are incredibly mediocre, failing to create any kind of seal in my ear, regardless of what I’ve tried.[/color]
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-Summary-​

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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The Mixcder ANC-G5 is an earphone that was compromised on far too much to bring active noise cancellation. Having mediocre sound, mediocre eartips (and a non-standard nozzle), and ineffective noise cancellation, I do not recommend the ANC-G5. You would be better off saving up for a full-sized headphone with the technology, or buying an IEM with good passive noise cancellation.[/color]