OneOdio Focus A5 Review: Affordable Audio Done Right

OneOdio has introduced the OneOdio Focus A5, an affordable pair of headphones boasting impressive features.

However, do these features really live up to their claims? Should you purchase the OneOdio Focus A5 or consider other alternatives? Let’s explore everything in this OneOdio Focus A5 review.

Quick Summary: The OneOdio Focus A5 delivers good sound quality with deep bass and crisp trebles. It offers great comfort and impressive battery life. For its price, the OneOdio Focus A5 truly provides solid value overall.

Key Features of the OneOdio Focus A5

What’s in the Box

• OneOdio Focus A5 headphones
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• Documentation and user manual

Build Quality

The moment we unboxed the OneOdio Focus A5 headphones, we immediately noticed their substantial weight, which gives them a solid and robust feel.

The headphones themselves appear sturdy, and their design exudes an expensive and premium vibe.

While the outer surface of the headphones looks metallic, it may actually be made of high-quality plastic.

However, one issue we encountered is that the heft causes the right side of the adjustable headband to feel slightly loose. With even a small shake, it tends to slide open. It may only be an issue with our unit.

Despite this, the overall build quality is impressive. The headphones feel durable and in no way cheap from any angle.

Build Quality: 4.0★

Design and Comfort

The OneOdio Focus A5 features a modern and premium design. The oversized earcups are designed to fit comfortably, even for those with larger ears, providing full coverage for a better music experience.

All controls and the USB-C charging port are conveniently located on the right earcup. These include a dedicated ANC button, a power button, and volume up and down buttons.

The ear cushions are soft and lightweight, ensuring a comfortable fit without causing any discomfort during extended use.

Thanks to the generously sized earcups, they accommodate nearly all ear sizes, including larger ones, making them versatile for different users.

The only notable concern is the headphones’ weight, which makes their presence on your head noticeable during use.

Despite this, the overall comfort is excellent, and we were able to wear the headphones for hours without experiencing any issues.

Design and Comfort: 4.0★

Sound Quality

Within moments of using the OneOdio Focus A5, it became clear that these headphones are tuned for bass enthusiasts.

The 40mm dynamic drivers deliver bass with impressive depth, richness, and punch, making them a great choice for those who love a bass-heavy sound profile.

What’s great is that the headphones don’t just excel in bass; the treble is crisp and well-defined. Unlike many budget headphones that prioritize bass at the expense of treble, the Focus A5 maintains a good balance.

The treble is sharp and sparkly without becoming harsh, even at maximum volume.

Vocals, while clear, feel slightly less emphasized compared to the bass and treble. They’re adequate but don’t stand out as much as other elements of the sound.

We used the headphones across multiple music genres, and the performance was consistently enjoyable. Even tracks with minimal bass had a fuller sound, thanks to the headphones’ bass-forward tuning.

Overall, the sound quality is a delight for bass lovers, and it achieves this without significantly compromising the treble or vocals. The sound clarity is also good, providing an open and immersive experience, though it doesn’t reach audiophile-level precision.

However, we did notice one significant drawback: loudness. Despite testing the headphones on various devices, the volume often felt insufficient. We found ourselves keeping the volume at 90–100% for a satisfying experience, where ideally, the same level of loudness should have been achievable at around 80%.

At maximum volume, the loudness is ample, but this should have been attainable at lower levels.

Apart from this, there are no major issues with the OneOdio Focus A5. The overall music experience has been highly enjoyable, particularly for those who prioritize bass in their audio experience.

Sound Quality: 4.0★

ANC Effectiveness

First, we tested the ANC in an indoor environment with colleagues chatting nearby. When we turned on ANC mode, we didn’t notice any significant difference—it was still easy to hear the conversations around us.

On the plus side, there was no hissing sound commonly associated with lower-quality ANC.

Initially, this was concerning, as it seemed the ANC wasn’t functioning properly.

However, when we moved to an outdoor setting with more substantial noise, we observed that the ANC effectively reduced loud sounds from distant sources. Unfortunately, it struggled to block out nearby sounds, which felt somewhat inconsistent.

It’s worth noting that these headphones feature Adaptive Hybrid ANC, which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation based on the surrounding environment. This explains why the ANC performance varied depending on the conditions.

While the Adaptive Hybrid ANC can be beneficial—allowing users to remain aware of important nearby sounds while reducing louder ambient noise—it doesn’t create the completely quiet environment typically expected from ANC headphones.

This adaptability can be seen as both a strength and a weakness.

Overall, we found the ANC performance to be inconsistent. In some instances, it provided solid noise cancellation, but at other times, it fell short of expectations, leaving us somewhat underwhelmed.

ANC Effectiveness: 3.8★

Microphone and Call Quality

We tested the call quality of the OneOdio Focus A5 in moderately noisy environments, and the results were satisfactory. Even when speaking softly, the other person could hear us clearly.

However, the voice sounded compressed rather than open and natural, as it would with a smartphone microphone. This compression serves a purpose—reducing background noise—but it also affects the voice clarity, making it feel less full.

In very noisy environments, the noise suppression became more aggressive, further compressing both the background noise and the voice. While this helped minimize environmental distractions, it also resulted in a noticeable loss of vocal clarity.

Overall, the call quality is good in quiet and moderately noisy settings but drops to average in very noisy environments due to the increased compression.

Microphone and Call Quality: 3.9★

Battery Life and Charging

The battery performance of the OneOdio Focus A5 is truly a standout feature.

The company claims up to 75 hours of music playback without ANC and 45 hours with ANC at 50% volume. However, since we consistently had to use the headphones at over 80% volume, here’s what we experienced in real-world usage:

• 60 hours without ANC
• 32 hours with ANC

While these figures are significantly lower than the advertised claims, they are still impressive for headphones in this price range.

Additionally, the OneOdio Focus A5 supports fast charging, providing 10 hours of playback at 50% volume with just 10 minutes of charging. Even better, the headphones can go from 0% to 100% charge in just 1.5 hours.

Overall, the battery performance is excellent, ensuring you won’t face any issues with usage duration or charging convenience.

Battery Life and Charging: 4.2★

Connectivity and Additional Features

The OneOdio Focus A5 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, which is a solid feature for headphones in this price range.

During our use, the connection remained stable when the phone was placed on a table, even as we moved into a second room. However, upon moving to a third room, the connection dropped for a second. This demonstrates that the connectivity is reliable as long as you stay within range.

Other features include:

• Volume and track control: Adjust the volume and skip to the next or previous track using the volume buttons.
• 65ms latency: While not the best, this latency is sufficient for casual to intermediate gaming.
• Ambient mode: Slightly enhances surrounding sounds for better awareness.
• USB-C wired mode support: You can use the headphones in wired mode, but the USB-C cable must be purchased separately.
• 2-year replacement warranty: An impressive commitment to product quality and customer satisfaction.

Overall, the connectivity and additional features of the OneOdio Focus A5 make it a solid option for versatile use.

Connectivity and Features: 4.2★

Pricing and Value for Money

Please note that our review and ratings have been conducted with the pricing in mind, and we must commend OneOdio for pricing the Focus A5 competitively.

Here’s a breakdown of the pricing in various regions:

• Amazon US: Link
• Discounted price: $44.99
• Promotion code: FOCUSA5PRO
• (10% off, stackable with page discounts. Valid until December 31st.)

• Amazon UK: Link
• Discounted price: £48.59
• Promotion code: PDLQERWD
• (10% off, stackable with page discounts. Valid until December 31st.)

• Official Website: Link
• Discounted price: $55.99
• Promotion code: XMKGFG
• (20% off, valid until December 31st.)

Considering this pricing, the OneOdio Focus A5 offers great value for money. The combination of its sound quality and features makes the price point entirely reasonable and attractive for buyers seeking a budget-friendly yet good headphone.

Pricing and Value for Money: 4.1★

Real-World Usage Experience

We’ve been using the OneOdio Focus A5 for several days, and our experience has been satisfactory overall.

We liked the design and build quality, which feel premium and sturdy. However, the loose adjustable headband was a consistent annoyance, as it required frequent readjustments during use.

The sound quality was enjoyable, with deep bass and crisp trebles that are sure to please bass enthusiasts. That said, the loudness fell slightly short of expectations, leaving us wishing for a bit more volume.

Aside from these issues, we found the headphones to be comfortable and reliable, especially considering their price point. Overall, our experience was positive, with no major complaints at this budget-friendly level.

Final Verdict: Pros & Cons

After using the OneOdio Focus A5 for several days, we can say that it offers solid value for its price.

While it can’t compete with premium headphones, it isn’t designed to. The overall sound quality, comfort, build quality, and features it provides at this price point are unlikely to disappoint most users.

Overall Rating: 4.02★ (Great)

FAQs

You might find the Soundcore V20i review interesting.

That concludes our OneOdio Focus A5 review. If you still have any doubts, feel free to ask in the comments section.

Also, share your thoughts on whether you agree or disagree with this review.