TaoTronics TT-EP01 Active Noise Canceling Headphones Review

Last updated on 2022-09-20
By Yvonne

TaoTronics T-EP01 Active noise cancelling headphones review The TaoTronics T-EP01 Active noise cancellation headphones have a small, comfortable design with good sound quality.

TaoTronics TT-EP01 Active Noise Canceling Headphones

We like this

Cancellation of strong noise
Price that is affordable
For a customized fit, you can use multiple eartips or earhooks
With Active Noise Cancelling, you get 15 hours battery life

The Things We Hate

Earphones made of cheaper materials are not as long-lasting as those that cost more.
An adapter is not required for phones without a headset jack
Weak range, muddy highs

These lightweight, wired, small earbuds are less than $50 and offer excellent noise cancellation and sound quality in noisy environments. They're a great choice for heavy commuters as well as light travelers.

The TaoTronics TTEP01 was purchased by us so that our expert reviewer could fully test it and evaluate it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

While noise-canceling technology can be great at reducing the background noise, brands like Sony and Bose are expensive, particularly for their large over-ear options. Earbuds like the TaoTronics TTEP01 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones can be smaller and lighter, but still provide solid noise cancellation. Although the sound quality is not as good as more expensive headphones, the TaoTronics TT-EP01 Active Noise Canceling Headphones are a fantastic option for budget-minded people.

The first generation TT-EP01 wired TaoTronics active noise cancelling headphones was tested recently. These headphones are less expensive than $50, and they offer noise cancellation which is a very rare feature. We tested all of its features including design, fit and battery life. But, most important, it's ability to cancel background noise.

Design: Lightweight and durable

TaoTronics is a pair of stylish silver-and black earbuds that are made of a mixture of plastic and machined aluminum. Four pairs of eartips are included, as well as four pairs rubber earhooks. These earhooks will keep the earbuds in place. You can interchange eartips or earhooks to create the perfect fit, while still keeping your earbuds securely in place. Comfort for long wear is also provided by the angled nozzles on the eartips. This earbud weighs just 1.1 ounces, and fits easily into bags and pockets.

This rubberized cable features a microphone, remote and three buttons in-line. It also includes an additional housing that houses the Active Noise Canceling technology. The 140mAh rechargeable batteries power it.

Controls: Functional and simple

Multifunction buttons are located in the middle of the button. This button allows you to play, pause, and answer phone calls with one click. You can also use voice commands like Siri and Google Assistant by holding the same button for longer. To skip to the next track, click it twice. Three clicks will take you back to the previous song. Volume Up and Down buttons adjust volume, while the LED lights indicate battery status and warn you when the ANC function has been activated. For clearer calls, the microphone is located on the rear of the remote.

Installation: Instructions are not provided

It is a poor user guide. Although it provides a diagram of the product and instructions on how to charge them, we were unable to find specific controls and features.

Important to know that TaoTronics headphones are wired and must be connected to your source audio with the gold-plated, 3.5mm headset jack. Since there's no Bluetooth technology if you have a smartphone without a headphone jack — an increasingly common omission on flagship phones — you'll need a 3.5mm to USB-C or Lightning adapter. For use in flight entertainment, a two-pin adapter for airplane audio is provided.

Sound quality: Strong bass and solid mids

The audio quality of the TaoTronics T-EP01 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones is excellent for a product under $50. You'll enjoy succinct mids and deep, energetic bass — a big improvement from the shallower bass of cheaper products. Although the mids sound crisp and warm, the headphones have trouble hearing the highs.

TaoTronics is a pair of stylish, silver-and black earbuds that are made of a mixture of plastic and machined aluminum.

Noise cancellation: Ideal for background noise

Active Noise Cancelling technology (ANC), which can be controlled via a switch at the end of the housing on the bottom of the TaoTronics audio cable, is the most notable feature of the TaoTronics headset. This technology listens to what you are doing and then emits sound waves that match your surroundings to drown out any noise.

We used the ANC in a variety of situations to get a feel for how it worked. It was excellent at blocking out noise from subway stations and street noises, but not as good with loud speech sounds or abrupt, loud noises. It caused some problems in our office so we had to replace the rubber eartips. We also found a simple solution: a pair foam eartips designed for isolation of noise such as the Comply Isolation T-400. Although they won't completely eliminate background noise, when combined with the noise cancellation technology they will be capable of eliminating most.

You'll enjoy succinct mids and deep, energetic bass — a big improvement over the shallower bass of cheaper products.

However, apart from the loudspeaker announcements, the commute was quite silent. We were able to listen to music or podcasts in peace without having to increase the volume.

According to TaoTronics you can use your ANC up to 15 hours on a single charge. This is similar to our experience. Even if the battery runs out, music will still play, even without noise cancellation.

Price: Great value

The TaoTronics TTEP01 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, a low-cost option in this noise canceling segment, are a good value. They offer a sturdy build with high-end ANC and a price tag of less than $50.

These lightweight, small earbuds, which weigh less than 50 cents, are an incredible value. They provide high-quality noise cancellation even in noisy, crowded environments.

Similar products are also available in the same price range, such as the OVC Active noise cancelling earbuds or the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC33iS QuietPoint in-ear noise-canceling headphones. TaoTronics' TT-EP02US is another option that offers the same features but in a more refined design and costs only a couple of dollars less.

TaoTronics TT-EP01 vs. OVC Active Noise Canceling Earbuds

TaoTronics' TT-EP01 Active noise cancellation headphones offer superior technology, particularly for travelers who are heavy users. OVC's Active Noise Canceling Earbuds provide effective ANC to reduce noise from the surrounding environment, but do not have the rich bass and mids like TaoTronics. The fabric cord can rub against the skin and cause discomfort.

You can also check out other reviews on the top headphones below $50 and our selections of the most popular earbuds.

Final Verdict

TaoTronics TTEP01 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones provide comfortable and reliable earbuds that can block out background noise for as long as 15 hours. The remote/mic provides advanced control, such as voice commands and the ability to interact with the smart assistant on your smartphone's phone. This is a great set of features, and it's hard to find them at such an affordable price.