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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Khadas Tea — biggest strength: An ultra-thin (under 0.3 inch / 7.95 mm) portable headphone amplifier with an ESS ES9281AC Pro DAC and Qualcomm QCC5125 Bluetooth chip, supporting LDAC, aptX HD, PCM, DSD and MQA.
• Khadas Tea — biggest trade-off: It's a source device, not a headphone. Its Bluetooth can only receive data, so it can't connect directly to TWS Bluetooth earbuds, and you still need your own wired headphones.
• Amazon Renewed Edifier W80 — biggest strength: A complete over-ear wireless headphone with hybrid ANC rated to reduce noise by up to -49dB, 40mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers, LDAC Hi-Res audio, and up to 65 hours of playback.
• Amazon Renewed Edifier W80 — biggest trade-off: It's a Renewed unit carrying a 90-day limited warranty, and it's a bulky over-ear design rather than something that disappears in a pocket.
• Who each pick is for: Khadas Tea is for tinkerers and wired-headphone owners who want better sound from a phone; the Edifier W80 is for anyone who wants one finished pair of headphones that does noise cancelling, calls and long listening sessions.
The Khadas Tea is a different category of product than most people expect when they search for "LDAC headphones." It isn't a headphone at all — it's a slim headphone amplifier and DAC that clings to the back of a MagSafe-compatible phone. Inside sits an ESS ES9281AC Pro DAC and a Qualcomm QCC5125 Bluetooth chip, which together let it decode LDAC at up to 24-bit/96kHz, plus aptX HD, PCM, DSD and MQA. Plug a pair of wired headphones into the 3.5mm jack and your phone's streaming app — Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz and the like — gets a cleaner, more detailed path to your ears than the phone's own output.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, this is for the person who already owns a good pair of wired headphones and wants Hi-Res audio on the move without buying a dedicated digital audio player. If you stream lossless and care about the DAC in the chain, the Tea is the interesting piece of gear. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants wireless earbuds or a Bluetooth headset experience — the Tea's Bluetooth can only receive data, so it cannot transmit to TWS earbuds. And note the charging guidance: use a 5V/1A adapter, since a fast charger can cause problems.
Amazon Renewed Edifier W80: Who It's For
The Edifier W80 is the opposite approach: everything is built in. This is an over-ear wireless headphone with hybrid active noise cancelling that reduces background noise by up to -49dB, helped along by the passive isolation of the over-ear cups. The 40mm dynamic driver uses a titanium-coated diaphragm for deep bass and clean mids and highs, and with LDAC support it can carry Hi-Res wireless audio rather than falling back on a lower-quality codec.
Battery life is the headline number here: up to 65 hours of wireless playback on a single charge, and a 15-minute fast charge adds roughly 10 hours. That's the kind of figure that means you can take a long-haul flight, a work week of commutes, or a string of study sessions without hunting for a cable. The headphones also support multipoint connection over Bluetooth 5.4, so you can stay paired to two devices and switch between them, plus an adjustable Ambient Sound mode if you need to hear what's happening around you.
Comfort and calls are handled too: memory foam ear pads wrapped in soft leather, a spacious ear cup design, a silent hinge to cut vibration noise, and a foldable frame for storage. AI-based call processing filters background noise so conversations come through clearly. This is a Renewed unit, which is worth knowing before you buy — it carries a 90-day limited warranty. I'd recommend it for commuters, travellers, open-office workers and students who want one pair of headphones to do everything. I'd steer away anyone who prefers on-ear or in-ear fit, or who wants the absolute latest sealed retail packaging.
• Best for noise cancelling → Amazon Renewed Edifier W80. Up to -49dB hybrid ANC plus passive over-ear isolation is a real, measurable feature the Tea simply doesn't have.
• Best for battery life → Amazon Renewed Edifier W80. Up to 65 hours wireless playback versus the Tea's up to 8 hours.
• Best for using your own wired headphones → Khadas Tea. The 3.5mm jack and ESS ES9281AC Pro DAC exist precisely to upgrade headphones you already own.
• Best for Hi-Res codec flexibility → Khadas Tea. LDAC, aptX HD, PCM, DSD and MQA give it broader format support than the W80's LDAC-focused wireless path.
• Best for phone calls on the move → Amazon Renewed Edifier W80. Its AI call processing and multipoint switching are built for that; the Tea's mic is a secondary feature.
• Best for slipping in a pocket → Khadas Tea. Under 0.3 inches thick and MagSafe-compatible, it disappears onto the back of a phone.
• Best for a one-and-done purchase → Amazon Renewed Edifier W80. Everything — drivers, ANC, battery, mic — arrives in a single product.
• Best for peace of mind on warranty → Khadas Tea. The W80 is Renewed with a 90-day limited warranty; check the terms before committing.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Amazon Renewed Edifier W80. For most people searching "LDAC headphones," the goal is a finished pair of headphones that sounds good, blocks out noise and lasts all week — and the W80 delivers all three in one box, with LDAC, up to 65 hours and -49dB ANC. The Khadas Tea is genuinely clever, and I'd recommend it without hesitation to someone who already owns wired headphones and wants a better DAC in the chain. But it's a component, not a complete solution. Just weigh the 90-day Renewed warranty before you decide.
FAQ
what is ldac headphones
LDAC is a high-resolution Bluetooth audio codec, and "LDAC headphones" means a headphone that can decode it. Both products here support LDAC — the Edifier W80 wirelessly, and the Khadas Tea as a receiving amplifier.
what is ldac support in headphones
what is ldac codec in headphones
It's the encoding method that compresses and sends audio over Bluetooth. On the Tea, the Qualcomm QCC5125 chip handles it; on the W80, LDAC works alongside its 40mm titanium-coated drivers.
what is ldac sony headphones
LDAC originated with Sony, but it isn't exclusive to Sony products. Plenty of other brands license it, which is exactly why you'll find LDAC support on both the Khadas Tea and the Edifier W80.
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