Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
OneOdio Focus A6: two-minute review
Let me cut right to the chase: the OneOdio Focus A6 are the best budget headphones I’ve ever used. Loud, bassy, attractively designed and sporting sturdy software support, they offer everything you could reasonably ask for from a pair of sub-$100 cans. And then some.
Just how much have OneOdio’s affordable (but definitely not cheap-feeling) over-ears impressed me over the course of a month’s testing? I have such a high opinion of them, I’ve actively chosen to use these cans in my free time over my Apple AirPods Max. And for context, Crew Cupertino’s high-end headphones normally retail for over five times what OneOdio is currently asking for the Focus A6s – and yes, both models can do USB-C wired Lossless audio.
There’s so much to like here and, well… hear. I can honestly say the Focus A6s are comfortably the best headphones I’ve ever reviewed that clock in at well under $100 / $100. Incredibly well-balanced at both high and low ends, they can electrify your ears during searingly accurate vocal performances while also rumbling your lobes when you crave the deepest bass lines.
When it comes to software, OneOdio has gone above and beyond with these headphones. A simple-to-use yet pleasingly sophisticated companion app outshines the offerings of some far pricier cans, making the Focus A6s an ideal choice for music buffs or even gamers thanks to its software’s various tweakable features.
Though noise cancelling on the Focus is strong, but not quite class-leading, the A6s still do an admirable job of dampening down distracting outside sounds mid-hectic commute. Throw in AI-bolstered mic features that help strengthen vocal performance during calls while also quietening your surroundings, and you’re looking at a set of budget over-ears that overdeliver at their price point. And that’s before your factor in their support for Bluetooth 6.0.
Considering they cost less than 60 bucks, the Focus A6s really are astounding. There’s no other set of cans I’ve enjoyed reviewing more in 2025. With that said, there are other options at this price point that are seriously worth considering. Be it the near peerless 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 or the Sony WH-CH520. When it comes to the best cheap headphones, options are plentiful.
I currently have more pairs of headphones in my apartment than I do shoes and I don’t say it lightly when I declare the OneOdio Focus A6s are now my favorite. Yes, that does include the aforementioned Apples. I’m legitimately amazed the Chinese firm has delivered such an impeccable set of cans at a barely believable price for the quality on offer here.
Read on, and I’ll tell you exactly why the Focus A6s aren’t just the most pleasantly surprising set of headphones I’ve perhaps ever tested, but are also some of the best cans available right now. Holy smokes do I love these headphones.
OneOdio Focus A6 review: Price and release date
- Release date: July, 2025
- Price: $55 / £55 / AU$112 (approx.)
The OneOdio Focus A6 have been on global release since July 7, 2025. Available in both Midnight Black and Ivory Blush, these cans retail for an extremely reasonable $55 / £55 / around AU$112 on Amazon and many other major sites.
I’ve already seen the A6s go for lower than the official MSRP in semi-regular sales here in the UK, so don’t be surprised if these excellent over-ears drop to even more bank balance-friendly prices when Black Friday season swiftly swoops around.
Aggressively priced isn’t the half of it…
OneOdio Focus A6 review: Specs
|
Weight: |
240g |
|
Drivers: |
40mm |
|
Battery life: |
75 hours; 40 hours (ANC on) |
|
Active noise cancellation: |
Yes |
|
Connectivity: |
Bluetooth 6.0; USB-C wired Lossless support |
OneOdio Focus A6 review: Features
- Above average ANC
- Intuitive to use, robust app
- AI-enhanced call features
If the OneOdio Focus A6s were to cost $255 rather than $55, I’d still consider their feature set to be strong. But at the latter, ultra-attractive price? Damn, these over-ears are tough to top in the budget category.
First and foremost, they’re future-proofed up the wazoo. These are some of the earliest Bluetooth 6.0 headphones to hit the market, and though I didn’t have any such devices on hand to test them with, I massively appreciate OneOdio including such a forward-looking feature in such cheap cans.
Next up, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC). Here, the A6s once again prove they’re no slouch. While I have heard superior ambient sound-slaying features in the best noise-cancelling headphones, OneOdio has nevertheless delivered a set of over-ears that can subdue most of the distracting outside sounds most daily commutes bring about.
The firm claims that with ANC enabled, there’s a 98% increase in noise reduction. In real-world terms, on several noisy train journeys, that number seems generous in the extreme when comparing ANC On with Transparency modes. Still, enabling noise cancelling definitely does make a difference, even if it’s not quite a game-changing one.
As someone who loves the out-of-box audio the Focus serve up, I still appreciate the fact there’s an optional and extensive OneOdio app. Once installed, said software allows you to access additional Wind Noise Reduction and Wind-resistant Transparency modes. Even better? You can also enable three preset EQ modes, plus a further three custom ones, with little fuss.
Tweaking bass and treble sliders is very definitely my bag and I’m particularly fond of the A6s’ generous suit of custom EQ settings. The features don’t stop there, though. Thanks to this cleanly designed app, you can also enable a handy Find My Headphones mode, dual device connection settings and a Gaming Mode which reduces audio latency to just 0.065s.
The A6s’ AI-powered microphones also make these cans a top choice if you regularly make and take calls. Although I didn’t test them under the most glamorous conditions – most of my time with the Focus’ mic involved phoning the bank about my home insurance – I found that audio was always clear. Considering my apartment doesn’t always support the best data signal, the fact the people I was calling never had an issue hearing me didn’t go underappreciated.
With one foot in the future, and the other very firmly imprinted on all the audio features you expect in 2025, OneOdio has done a great job at offering users an option-rich set of headphones. The breezy yet broad-reaching companion software is very much the sumptuous cherry atop a delicious sonic sundae.
OneOdio Focus A6 review: Sound quality
- Loud, bass-filled, detailed sound
- Confident audio clarity at high, mid and low ends
- Superb for songs, shows and movies
Ah, the biggie. The OneOdio Focus A6s utterly smash it here. From a pure performance standpoint, these are the boomiest, best-rounded over-ears I’ve listened to since my beloved Apple AirPods Max. There’s not much to fault on the A6s’ sound quality.
To prefix the songs I tested on the Focus A6s, I battled against every fiber of my 40-year-soul and tried to embrace the kidz… with surprisingly ear-arousing results. Somewhat indebted to No Scrubs by TLC, Tinashe’s No Broke Boys is a bass-bringing banger. Despite rocking a chorus with machine-gun-rapid lyrics that could shake tectonic plates, the A6s’ mightily impressive bass never overly distracts from the words being sung.
Sombr’s fellow chart-conquering mega hit 12 to 12 also thrills on OneOdio’s headphones. The retro-facing synth-pop star’s latest once again brings the bass big style, despite the astonishingly chinned musician’s larynx sounding like it could soar through clouds. It’s a spellbinding and complementary mix of frequencies that really shows off the A6s’ range. Yes, I’ll admit: I ‘might’ have a thing for the low end.
Seeing as my knees have yet to disintegrate, and I’m desperately trying to stay relevant, arguably the song of 2025 Golden by KPop Demon Hunters sounds utterly fabulous on the A6s. Somehow dovetailing between soul-stirring treble highs and a bassline that’s deeper than the Mines of Moria, it’s as strong an advert for the Focus’ incredibly assured all-round audio as I can think of.
Speaking of which… wow. I could not resist listening to my most beloved piece of movie music ever on the A6s. With the first teaser for The Rings of Power season 3 recently revealed, I simply had to relive my favourite movie musical moment from the 2001 epic that started it all. The great Howard Shore’s The Breaking of the Fellowship is one of the silver screen scoring’s most uplifting orchestral pieces I’ve ever heard. Its swelling strings sound as sweeping as all of Middle-earth on OneOdio’s first-class headphones.
If you want a solid, sweaty workout worthy of the A6s’ all-round variety, and are interested in watching one of the best streaming shows of 2025, please consider Alien: Earth. I had a chest-bursting chuckle catching up with the sci-fi prequel’s first six episodes on the Focus.
In episode 2 Mr. October, the skittering high-frequency clawing of a Xeno’s ghastly feet, followed by the good ol’ squelchy mids of a barely alive victim, proceed with a straight-up WWE style move from H.R. Giger’s iconic beastie (that brings a glass-breaking frog splash) – all this is just electrifying audio. Looking to watch some of the best Disney Plus shows on your tablet? Definitely consider the Focus A6 based on Earth’s ear-delighting dread.
- Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5
OneOdio Focus A6 review: Design
- Comfort is never an issue
- Build quality exceeds the price tag big time
- A winning retro look
The Focus A6s look classy without ever trying too hard to grab your attention. These are grown-up headphones for users who want minimalist cans that still rock some unique flair. They aren’t overly showy, but once you get used to their particular aesthetic, I’m sure you’ll appreciate them.
Probably the most eye-catching aspect of the Focus are their “CNS-machined CD pattern, nano-sandblasted, anodized aluminum finish” earcups. Apologies if I’ve just made you want to regurgitate your most recent meal with some PR guff. In real world speak, some lovely materials combine to create cups that bring to mind the look of classic vinyl.
This bold build quality combines with classy flickers of gold on the Midnight Black model I’ve been testing. I had to look hard for the fine detail that has gone into the design of the Focus, which is to be applauded.
They’re also very comfortable, which is important for headphones that boast such strong battery life. While I appreciate the stylish metallic top of the Focus A6, my lobes are bigger fans of some supremely comfy earcups.
Over dozens of hours of listening, the fit of the Focus never once bothered my ears. Not only do the cups provide constant comfort, the fact they also snappily rotate 90 degrees with minimal effort is another big box ticked.
The power on/off, volume up/down and ANC buttons are also easy to navigate on OneOdio’s latest cans. I almost never had difficulty discerning between the different controls after a brief period of getting acclimatized to their location.
My only slight criticism? On a few occasions, I found the on-cup controls to be a little too sensitive. Something I discovered when accidentally turning off these cans while leaning back a little too quickly on the reclining chair in my living room.
Overall, though, the A6s are confidently designed headphones that show a pleasing eye for detail if you really peer at their earcups.
OneOdio Focus A6 review: Value
- Quality cans delivered with almost no cut corners
- Sound better than over-ears that cost triple their price
The Focus A6 are nothing short of tremendous value for money. Packed full of features, well built, boasting both super-strong audio and top-tier battery life, the OneOdio Focus A6 are a stunning price at just $55 / £55. Heck, I’ve even seen them go for a tenner less in my native Blighty since their release just a few short months ago.
Let me make this as clear as I can: I’m struggling to think of a better value set of high-quality budget over-ear headphones I’ve ever had the pleasure to use… and I’ve been buying cans for a quarter of a century. Yes, I’m roughly as old as the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Should I buy the OneOdio Focus A6?
|
Section |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
Stacked at the price point; excellent, easy-to-use app for EQ setting tweakage. |
4 / 5 |
|
Sound quality |
Big, full bass; few are the cheap headphones that are this satisfying. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Design |
Subtly gorgeous earcups and oh so comfortable. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Value |
The new word in value, OneOdio does an incredible job for less than $60. |
5 / 5 |
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
OneOdio Focus A6 review: Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
OneOdio Focus A6 |
1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 |
Sony WH-CH520 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Drivers: |
40mm composite |
40mm dynamic |
30mm |
|
Active noise cancellation: |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Battery life: |
75 hours ANC off; 40 hours ANC on |
100 hours; 65 hours ANC on |
50 hours |
|
Weight: |
240g |
246g |
137g |
|
Connectivity: |
Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C wired passthrough |
Bluetooth 5.4; 3.5mm |
Bluetooth 5.2; USB-C |
|
Waterproofing: |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
How I tested OneOdio Focus A6
- Tested for over a month
- Used at home, outdoors and on public transport
I tested the OneOdio Focus A6 over roughly five to six weeks. Over that period I primarily paired these over-ears with my iPhone 14 Pro and Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (2024). To get a handle on how good these cans’ ANC is, I used the Focus A6 on outdoor walks in bustling city areas and on several busy train journeys.
As for content, I listened to a whole bunch of my favourite tunes, several movies, a couple of the best Apple TV+ shows, and a number of my regular go-to podcasts to judge the quality and versatility the A6s’ audio is capable of delivering.
First reviewed: October 2025
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p9vFbVcHAdsUnw9RRbpH2h-1280-80.jpg
Source link
