If you want over-ear listening, long battery life, and active noise cancellation for everyday use, choose Edifier W830NB; if you need compact earbuds for small ears and exercise, choose Back Bay Audio Mini. For swimming, choose neither: Back Bay explicitly says its earbuds are not designed for swimming, and the Edifier specifications do not identify the headphones as swim-ready.
• Edifier W830NB: Its over-ear design combines hybrid active noise cancellation, four listening modes, and up to 94 hours of playback with ANC off. The trade-off is a larger headphone format rather than a small earbud.
• Back Bay Audio Mini: Its compact in-ear design includes six ear-tip sizes, an IPX7 water-resistance rating, and up to 32 hours of combined playback. The trade-off is explicit: it is not for swimming.
• Choose Edifier if you want long sessions, adjustable noise control, and a foldable over-ear headphone for travel or everyday listening.
• Choose Back Bay if you want small-profile earbuds, several fit options, and a case that adds listening time between charges.
The Edifier W830NB is an over-ear Bluetooth headphone built around long listening sessions. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers support LDAC audio, while its hybrid active noise cancellation is specified at up to -45 dB. That combination makes it the more feature-rich choice here for someone who wants music to be the focus on a commute, during work, or while settling in for a film. Spatial audio is also included for a more expansive, surround-style presentation.
Its four listening modes give the design some flexibility. High and medium ANC let you choose between two noise-cancelling settings; wind reduction and ambient sound provide alternatives when full noise cancellation is not what you want. That matters for everyday transitions: listening in a quieter room is a different situation from walking outdoors or wanting to hear more of what is around you. The headphones also support multipoint connection and Bluetooth 5.4, useful features for someone who moves between compatible devices.
Battery life is a defining strength. Edifier specifies up to 94 hours of playback with ANC off, and says a 15-minute charge can provide up to 10 hours of use. Those figures make the W830NB a practical option for long stretches away from a charger, though the 94-hour figure is specifically for ANC-off listening. The foldable design, adjustable headband, and soft earpads support portability and extended wear. The listed weight is around 265–267 g, so this is still a full-size headset, not something as unobtrusive as tiny earbuds.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Back Bay Audio Mini is the more compact option, with an in-ear fit and six included ear-tip sizes. That choice of tips is a meaningful advantage for anyone who struggles to get a comfortable fit from standard earbuds, especially if a smaller profile is a priority. Its listed weight is 45 g for the product, and the charging case is described as small, making this a more portable format than the Edifier over-ear headphones.
The earbuds offer an extra-bass mode that can be switched on with a button, so listeners can choose a stronger bass emphasis when they want it. The listed battery life is up to eight hours from the earbuds, with the case supplying up to 24 additional hours for a total of up to 32 hours. USB-C charging keeps recharging straightforward. The product also specifies Bluetooth 5 and sound isolation, rather than active noise cancellation. That distinction is worth keeping clear: the fit may help reduce outside sound, but the data does not describe adjustable ANC modes like the Edifier’s.
Its water-related details call for particular care. Back Bay describes the earbuds as IPX7-rated and suitable for sweat and rain, but explicitly states they are not for swimming and that their fit is not designed for swimming. That makes them a possible match for workouts and wet-weather outings, not a choice for someone searching for in ear earbuds for swimming. The water-resistance rating should not be read as permission to use them underwater.
Who should skip them: Skip the Back Bay Mini if swimming is your main use, or if you want active noise cancellation rather than sound-isolating earbuds.
• Best for long listening between charges → Edifier W830NB. Its stated maximum is up to 94 hours with ANC off, compared with up to 32 hours including the Back Bay charging case.
• Best for small-ear fit options → Back Bay Audio Mini. It includes six ear-tip sizes; the Edifier uses an adjustable headband and over-ear earpads instead.
• Best for active noise control → Edifier W830NB. It has hybrid ANC with high and medium settings, plus wind-reduction and ambient-sound modes.
• Best for a compact in-ear format → Back Bay Audio Mini. Its earbuds and small case are better suited to someone who prefers buds over a full-size headset.
• Best for foldable travel headphones → Edifier W830NB. The foldable construction is designed to make the over-ear pair easier to carry.
• Best for adjustable bass emphasis → Back Bay Audio Mini. Its extra-bass mode lets you switch to a stronger bass presentation with a button.
• Best for swimming → Neither. Back Bay says its earbuds are not designed for swimming, and the Edifier specifications do not establish swimming suitability.
• Best for immersive listening features → Edifier W830NB. LDAC support, 40 mm drivers, and spatial audio give it the more elaborate listed audio feature set.
Start with where you intend to wear the headphones. Over-ear headphones and in-ear earbuds solve different comfort and portability problems. The Edifier’s adjustable headband and soft earpads suit someone who wants a conventional headphone fit for longer listening. Back Bay’s six tip sizes make its earbuds the more adaptable choice for different ear-canal preferences, but even a carefully chosen tip does not change the stated warning against swimming.
Next, separate water resistance from swimming suitability. Back Bay’s IPX7 rating and sweat-and-rain positioning may appeal for workouts or rainy walks, yet the product information specifically says not to use these earbuds for swimming. The Edifier sheet does not provide a swimming rating or claim. If underwater use is essential, these two products are not supported choices based on the available specifications.
Think about how you manage background noise, too. The Edifier offers active noise cancellation and multiple modes, including ambient sound. Back Bay lists sound isolation, which comes from the in-ear format rather than the adjustable ANC system described for Edifier. If you want to change noise-control behavior for different settings, the Edifier has the clearer feature advantage. If you simply prefer small earbuds and do not require ANC, Back Bay may be the more natural fit.
Finally, compare battery figures in context. The Edifier’s up-to-94-hour figure applies with ANC off; it also specifies fast charging, with up to 10 hours of playback from a 15-minute charge. Back Bay’s up-to-32-hour total includes eight hours from the earbuds and another 24 hours supplied by the case. Those numbers describe different listening setups, so the right question is whether you prefer a long-running over-ear pair or earbuds that recharge in their case between sessions.
In my opinion, I would choose the Edifier W830NB for general listening because its long ANC-off battery life, adjustable noise-control modes, and foldable over-ear design make it the more versatile everyday headphone. Back Bay Audio Mini is the better fit when small earbuds and multiple tip sizes matter more than active noise cancellation. For swimming, I recommend neither: Back Bay rules out swimming, and Edifier’s listed specifications do not establish that use.
FAQ
The Edifier is specified for up to 94 hours of playback with ANC off. Back Bay specifies up to 32 hours total, combining up to eight hours from the earbuds with up to 24 additional hours from the case.
Yes. It has hybrid active noise cancellation specified at up to -45 dB, with high and medium ANC modes, as well as wind-reduction and ambient-sound modes.
The Back Bay Audio Mini is the more direct match because it includes six ear-tip sizes and has a small-profile in-ear design. The Edifier is an over-ear headphone with an adjustable headband, so it is intended for a different style of fit.
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