Advanced 747 Active Noise-Cancelling In-ear Monitors

Cinder

Formerly known as Res-Reviews
Pros: Comfortable, attractive and sturdy driver housings, relatively effective ANC, good battery life, excellent case, good eartips, fun bass response and bass signature
Cons: Lacks some midrange resolution
1*JvmtHbm-y4hEgyb4egoC4Q.jpeg

Advanced Sound 747 Review: In The Dead of Night

Advanced Sound is a company that has consistently shown me a willingness to adopt trends when they work, and shuns them when they don’t. Furthermore, they’ve shown excellent judgment with the types of new concepts they choose to incorporate into their products; they never feel half-baked or unfinished. The 747 is no exception to this: while ANC earphones are still in their infancy, Advanced Sound has managed to incorporate very impressive technology and performance into their earphone with minimal (relative) intrusiveness.

You can find the 747 for sale, here, on Advanced Sound’s official website, for $60.

Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. I am not affiliated with Advanced Sound beyond this review. These words reflect my true, unaltered, opinion about the product.

Preference and Bias: Before reading a review, it is worth mentioning that there is no way for a reviewer to objectively pass judgment on the enjoyability of a product: such a thing is inherently subjective. Therefore, I find it necessary for you to read and understand what I take a natural liking to and how that might affect my rating of a product.

My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, mid-bass. The mids should be slightly less pronounced than the treble, but still ahead of the bass. I prefer a more bright upper range.

Source: The 747 was powered like so:

HTC U11 -> USB-C adapter -> earphones

or

Hidizs AP100 3.5mm out -> FiiO A5 3.5mm out -> earphones

or

HiFiMAN SuperMini -> earphones

or

PC optical out -> HiFiMe SPDIF 9018 Sabre DAC 3.5mm out -> earphones

All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.

Sound Signature
Initial Impressions:

The 747 has an easy-to-digest V-shaped sound signature aimed squarely at the music-listening mainstream. It sticks to the tried-and-true formula of heightened mid-bass, slightly relaxed sub-bass, emphasized treble, and increased the presence of vocals. And while this isn’t anything special, it is a very good implementation of a V-shaped sound signature.

Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy

Treble is boosted and has decent extension, but ultimately fails to reach that ethereal level of sparkle I’ve started to see from some cheaper IEMs like the Earnine EN120. It does still provide a pretty comprehensive sense of spatial placement and provides Outlands with a good amount of air.

In One Ear was a treat to listen to. Despite the fact that I’ve been listening to almost exclusively BA IEMs for a couple months now, I found that the 747, was still admirably quick. Cymbal crashes and high-hat hits all sounded quite good with a decent amount of distinctiveness to each individual slam.

Given that the 747 isn’t aiming to be a clarity king or a treble cannon it should be no surprise that it isn’t sibilant or harsh. It handled even my most poorly behaved songs well.

Mids: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams

While I wouldn’t say that the 747 has any real flaws, if I had to choose something it would be the mids. They aren’t a mushy mess like some ANC earphones I’ve reviewed in the past, they don’t stand out in any particular way, even when compared to other similarly priced IEMs.

Flagpole Sitta sounded decent, but lacked some separation and detail; an artifact of the V-shaped sound signature the 747 has. That being said, it does have a pretty good timbre which makes for a pleasing listen most of the time.

Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)

Bass is where I think the team at Advanced Sound wanted to focus. It’s emphasized a bit more than on your typical V-shaped IEM and has a good solidity. It’s got a medium attack and decay speed which lends it a very natural feeling.

The 747 was gifted with a very sub-woofer-esque bass signature that is really, really nice. It reminds me of the box I have in my speaker setup. While it doesn’t have crazy extension or a lot of rumble, the mid-bass timbre is excellent and firm.

War Pigs and In For The Kill both sounded pretty darn good. Rich and warm, the bass sort of just washes over you.

Packaging / Unboxing
1*Ks3rm3Vyn1clt3mJzE9pRw.jpeg

1*kSUuhpvC3MugBxjGtxrOFw.jpeg

1*pQ46X0wXcl5N8enZ4MRKow.jpeg

Build
Construction Quality

1*p7dWQe43h1lvL4jVFCKBcg.jpeg

As always with Advanced Sound, the build quality on the 747 is excellent. The driver housings are milled from aluminum and look sandblasted.

1*YTWb3XcVoKcRbMCtty0FYA.jpeg

The front inner face is made of a matte plastic, as is the nozzle. The nozzle has a sensibly sized lip and a good mesh on it to prevent any debris from getting stuck inside.

1*E4D9gdYsGmmT5VKbfZglkw.jpeg

1*M_cb1DqTAuMAsH7UBKbkKg.jpeg

The cable is terminated with a 3.5mm jack. It is made of a rubberized plastic. It doesn’t have a lot of microphonics. Stress relief on the cable is good all around, from the Y-splitter to the microphone to driver housing. The microphone works well and has a single button for pause/play functionality that worked on both my Apple and Android devices (and works over USB-C to 3.5mm adapters as well).

1*wHxrozRzjAs3NUl1oBy2Yg.jpeg

Placed about two inches from the cable is the ANC module. It is also milled from aluminum. The sides are made from the same plastic as found on the microphone. On the bottom side of the module (left in the above picture) you can find the micro-USB charging port, and on the top (the right in the above picture) you can find the power switch and status light. The status light glows blue when ANC is active and does not glow when it is inactive.

Comfort

The 747 was perfectly comfortable for me even over longer periods of time. Unfortunately, I do think that listeners with smaller ears may experience some discomfort.

ANC Performance/Battery Life

Battery life and retention is really good for the ANC module. I got to 9.6 hours of active listening time twice and 9.3 another time, falling slightly short of the estimated 10 hours estimated by Advanced Sound. As for performance, the 747 is reasonably good at removing constant white noise from the environment but doesn’t do well eliminating more inconsistent noises like my keyboard. Street noise and the drone of an airplane's engines are easily removed, but screaming children may not be.

Accessories
1*S_fLQwCGWXKvwRh6TEAXVg.jpeg

Please excuse the use of a stock image, I seem to have misplaced my accessories picture.

But anyways, inside the box you will find:

  • 1x semi-hard carrying case
  • 1x micro-USB charging cable
  • 1x airline adapter
  • 2x pairs of extra silicone eartips
  • 3x pairs of double-flange silicone eartips
  • 3x pairs of foam eartips
Advanced Sound has never skimped out on their accessories in the past and that hasn’t changed. The silicone eartips are of above-average quality and the foam, while certainly no Comply, does work well enough such that I have no complaints.

But as per usual, my favorite part of the accessory package is the case. It is large enough to fit literally all of the accessories but not so large that it becomes unreasonable to take on the go.

Summary
The 747 set out to be a consumer-friendly ANC earphone that anyone can pick up and enjoy. It incorporates an attractive aluminum build, a good V-shaped sound signature, and reasonable sonic performance all inside a $60 package. This is an excellent value for a consumer looking to buy a cheap pair of ANC earphones or headphones, but who doesn’t want to compromise on comfort or sound quality. And while it may not be the king of detail retrieval at $60, it certainly doesn’t need to be to be worth your consideration.

B9Scrambler

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Feels like a regular earphone to wear - Price - ANC performance - Lots of extras - Overall nice build and material quality
Cons: Cable durability will be something to watch - Bassy signature won't be for everyone
Greetings!

2017 has been a pretty great year for ADVANCED. Watching the brand branch out to new and interesting tech has been a great experience. The GT-R and Alpha feature planar magnetic technology. They teamed up with AAW to craft the Accessport portable amplifier. Today we are checking out ADVANCED's take on the budget active noise cancelling market with the 747.

Competent active noise cancelling earphones have come down in price significantly in the last few years and no longer offer minimal noise attenuation at a premium price. For less than 100 USD you can get a well-built, good sounding product that offers more than just a slight decrease in external noise beyond what you'd get from passive isolation only.

The entry-level segment that ADVANCED has dropped the 747 into is very competitive and they certainly have their work cut out for them in making something that stands out. How does the 747 fare? Let's find out.

Disclaimer:

A big thanks to the team at ADVANCED for reaching out to see if I would be interested in reviewing the 747 and for arranging a complimentary review sample. The thoughts within this review are my own and are not representative of ADVANCED or any other entity. There was no financial incentive for writing this and I was given free rein to share my honest opinion.

The 747 retailed for 59.99 USD at the time of this review; https://www.adv-sound.com/products/747

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures in my headphones I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even and natural mid-range response, with reduced mid-bass. The HiFiMan RE800, Brainwavz B400, and thinksound On2 offer unique examples of signatures I enjoy.

Source:

For at home use the 747 was powered straight out of my Asus FX53V laptop. For portable use it was paired with an LG G5, Shanling M1, or the F-Audio S1. The 747 is no way needs to be amped, partly because when activated the ANC hardware acts as an amp, but also because the 747 is very easy to drive.

Specifications:
  • Driver unit: 13mm single dynamic driver
  • Impedance: 16 Ohm+/-15%
  • Sensitivity: 90dB+/-3dB at 1kHz
  • Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
  • Noise cancellation: 25dB+/-3dB
  • NC frequency range: 40Hz – 1kHz
  • Working time: Up to 10 hours
  • Charging time: 1 hour
  • Rated power: 10mW
DSC01992.JPG DSC01993.JPG DSC01994.JPG
Packaging and Accessories:

ADVANCED always presents their products in a very clean and informative package, and the 747 continues the tradition quite successfully. Following the same basic design as the Evo-X, the front of the exterior sheath has the usual ADVANCED name and 747 model branding, plus a detailed, glossy image of the earpieces and the ANC module. The ANC module shown is almost the exact size (slightly smaller) of the real thing too which is a nice touch. The left side of the sleeve highlights that the ANC tech is mostly for addressing low-frequency interference. Flipping to the back you are presented with a photo deconstructing the 747 down to its base components. There is also a compensated frequency response chart alongside the specifications and a list of included accessories.

Sliding off the exterior sheath reveals a black monolith of a box. Upon opening this inner package you see the writing “Enjoy the Silence” on the left and ADVANCED's spacious carrying case on the right. In this case is the 747 itself and all the extras you get with this product. And you get a lot of extras. All-in you're provided;
  • 747 earphones
  • large clamshell carrying case
  • 3 pairs of single flange silicone tips (s/m/l)
  • 3 pairs of Sennheiser-style dual-flange silicone tips (s/m/l)
  • 3 pairs of foam tips (s/m/l)
  • airplane adapter
  • microUSB cable
As I have come to expect from ADVANCED, their presentation is top-notch and the included accessories are plentiful, useful, and of high quality. I am especially glad they included their dual-flange tips with the 747 as they are one of my favorites.

DSC02327.JPG DSC02006.JPG DSC02335.JPG
Build and Comfort:

The 747's design is straightforward and inoffensive with a very traditional earphone look, unlike other ANC products which often have a little more flash or uniqueness to their design. The 747's silver aluminum housings are quite broad in size, a necessity for housing the beefy 13mm drivers within. There is a small vent on the back under which lies the noise cancelling microphone. Facing your ear there is another vent. The rest of the earphone is a smooth bell shape with only an ADV logo for contrast. The overall fit and finish is quite good with each individual aspect fitting together tightly, though I did notice some dried glue where the plastic face and aluminum body meet.

The long, flexible strain reliefs leading out of the housing are nicely implemented with one side colored red to denote the right channel. The cable itself is also quite decent. Above the y-split it's reasonably thick and feels quite dense. Microphonics (cable noise) are present, especially apparent when rubbing up against a zipper, but are overall quite manageable and much less intrusive than the fabric cables used by much of the competition. ADVANCED should consider adding a chin cinch to help combat cable noise.

Below the y-split the cable is very thick but give it a quick squeeze and there is a surprising bit of flex and compression. I suppose that explains why the cable starts to fold and kink when bent significantly, something that worries me slightly when it comes to longevity. That concern mainly lies where the ANC module is placed, about 4 inches above the straight jack. OVC did something similar with the H15, but their cable with its thick cloth sheath felt more suitable for carrying the weight of the module. The 747's cable is well relieved on either end of the module, but it still kinks slightly just beyond the relief. Adding a small clip to help carry the weight of the module would be a welcome improvement. The cable kinking is also a mild concern at the y-split which is free of any strain relief.

Like the ear pieces, the ANC module is very well constructed. The black aluminum shell is slim and sleek and quite unobtrusive. On one side you find ADVANCED's slogan, “Designed for Musicians”. The other highlights their use of “Pitch Black Noise-Canceling Technology”. I know a lot of you out there hate branding but if done well I think it can look pretty damn cool, as it does here. This module is also significantly more compact than the competition despite housing all the ANC tech, a battery rated for 10 hours of use, the microUSB charging port, and the ANC on/off switch. Major props to ADVANCED for condensing all that into something so comparatively tiny.

Due to the 747's fairly standard design and light weight, it's quite suitable for long-term listening sessions. I routinely used them at work, and even after an eight and a half-hour shift they left my ears fresh and a daisy, free of hotspots.

While I do have some concerns about cable longevity, the 747 seems to be very well constructed. I adore how tiny the ANC module is as it stays out-of-the-way. The fairly standard design of the housings makes the 747 quite comfortable, and in use it feels like any other earphone. After having used a number of ANC earphones with learning curves for fit, or module placement, or some other aspect that compromised overall useability, this last point cannot be overlooked.

DSC02009.JPG DSC02011.JPG DSC02013.JPG
Battery Life:

The 747 is rated at 10 hours of use with one hour of charge time. As is often the case, volume plays a part in how much use you get. Given I generally listen at lower than average volumes, over three full cycles I was able to achieve close to 11 hours with only my initial listening session (first empty to full charge) falling under 10 hours of use.

Passive vs. Active Noise Cancelling:

Despite the shallow fit, I actually found the 747's passive isolation to be more than adequate. Sitting in a loud cafe I was still able to hear those around me, chairs sliding, plates clinking, etc. but sounds were muted enough to easily enjoy my music with only a slight volume bump needed to compensate.

The 747's active noise cancelling on the other hand, is quite good. With it on in the same cafe, external noise was reduced mainly to the base murmur of voices with all other ambient noise falling silent. I also got to use it extensively in office at the call centre where I work. While I could still hear my colleagues somewhat, typing noise and the hum of the hundreds of computers, heating units, etc. were all successfully nullified.

Sound (ANC Off):

If the 747 wasn't an active noise cancelling earphone and sold for the same price, I'd still have no qualms recommending it to bass lovers. The 747's u- or l-shaped signature is warm and silky smooth with a generous bass line that caresses your music and your ears. With ANC off its treble is fairly well-extended with some roll off that keeps it fatigue-free. Detail retrieval is actually quite good and I never felt like I was missing out on anything. The treble here is also quite quick and clean free of any splashiness or looseness. I can definitely see some wanting a little more sparkle and energy, which you get with ANC on, but I'll come back to that.

With ANC off I found the 747's mid-range quite prominent, though not forward. It was able to easily cut through and shine despite the abundant low-end, and sounded equally natural and at home with male or female vocals. I personally found it a little sweeter with female vocals, and that it really shone with jazz influenced guitar work. Running through classic rock albums like Pick Floyd's “Dark Side of the Moon” or Supertramp's “Crime of the Century” was quite pleasing. Detail and separation were above average as well, letting me pick up fine details like licking lips, fingers sliding slightly between chords, and other aspects I would expect to be glossed over.

The low-end is what most will focus on when they hear the 747. It's big and rumbly, though a bit slow and lacking texture. It's primary focus is on an impactful mid-bass region, still, extension is pretty good and with EDM, rap, and hip hop, you will feel a satisfying rumble. Despite the mass quantity of bass on offer, I never found the 747 particularly fatiguing, even on those off chances I decided to crank the volume on a particularly entertaining track.

Soundstage is another positive aspect of the 747's presentation. They have a large, open feel to them, though not to the extent of ANC-free earphones that lead in this area, like the Havi B3 Pro I or Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX. Separation and layering are overall quite decent too with the 747 avoiding congestion, even on cluttered tracks like King Crimson's “Starless and Bible Black”.

Sound (ANC On):

While the 747's general signature is retained with ANC on, it does gain some additional volume, lower treble emphasis and sparkle, and ends up coming across more v- than l-shaped. I found this particularly apparent when listening to vocal liquid drum and bass, such as Calyx and TeeBee's “Long Gone”. Flipping on and off the ANC switch would lead to Calyx's vocals pulling back as the main focus, and the extremities stepping forward. Sub-bass regions also seem to step up a touch giving the 747 a more visceral feel than it has with ANC off.

20171229_171309.jpg
Select Comparisons:

Mixcder ANC-G5 (59.99 USD):

- The G5 and 747 take similar approaches to their sound with each having a bass-heavy signature. Whereas the 747 tones down the treble to bring it in line with the mid-range, the G5 has slightly boosted treble making it the more energetic listen. The G5 has a better mid-/sub-bass balance than the 747, but it lacks the extension. The G5 sounds slightly less organic and refined than the 747, especially with ANC on where it takes on a mild metallic edge. The 747 also has a more spacious presentation, despite the G5's semi-open nature. While I prefer the G5's brighter sound, the refinement of the 747 and it's more lush, prominent mid-range wins me over.

- Without any music playing, Mixcder's ANC G5's noise cancelling does a good job but doesn't suppress voices quite to the same extent as the 747. It also lets in more ambient noise which has a thinner, more detail rich presentation to it than what comes through on the 747. Passive isolation is no comparison with the 747 being much better. The G5 is more or less semi-open due to all the ventilation present. Isolation, both passive and active goes to the 747.

- Build quality on both is quite good. Mixcder's greater use of plastic leads to a product that doesn't feel quite as substantial, but their material choice lead to something a bit lighter, at least in the earpieces. I also think the G5's design is more stylish. The G5's ANC module doubles as the y-split and in-line mic/control module. It also carries the rest of the electronics leading to something a bit thicker and more weighty than the slender solution found on the 747. There is a built-in shirt clip to offset the weight, something I would like to see ADVANCED add to their module. In the end it's a wash as I have mild issues with the build on each.

- Both of these earphones take a more traditional approach to their design. This means that both are quite comfortable. However, the G5 brings ear guides into the mix and the nozzle extends outwards from the housings at a very minimal angle (~25 degrees maybe) . The nozzle is also ovular as opposed to circular which limits tip options and makes fit less universal. While the G5 fits me well and is comfortable, there is still a level of fiddling required to get the ear guides sitting just right, and they do cause hotspots after long period. 747 takes it in comfort.

- You'd think the G5 would have better battery life given the thickness of the module, but nope. At 8 hours, it falls a couple short of the 747. It's charge time is twice as long at five hours too. 747 for the win.

OVC H15 (49.99 USD):

- The H15 goes the opposite route of the 747 and uses a tiny 6mm micro-driver as its primary driver. I say primary driver because it is actually a dual-dynamic earphone. The second driver is even larger than the 747's at 13.6mm, and pulls double duty. It acts as the ANC driver and/or as a bass boost. OVC's approach is more unique and versatile since you get a few different signatures depending on whether or not the bass boost is on. With bass boost off, the ANC function doesn't change the signature much at all since there are two different drivers handling two different jobs vs. the 747's single dynamic which handles it all. H15 has more unique tech, and it has been applied quite effectively.

- Not only is the approach to noise cancellation quite different between these two units, but so are their signatures. The H15 is much more balanced to my ear with a more detailed, mid-range and treble focused sound. It's bass extends similarly to the 747, but lacks the emphasis and is much quicker and less bloated. The H15's overall presentation is also a lot thinner which makes it less ideal in noisy environments where, with ANC off, most of its low end gets overwhelmed by incoming noise. Soundstage is similar with the H15 getting the nod, pending the bass boost is off. I personally like the H15's sound more, but the 747's signature undoubtedly has a wider appeal and works better in it's intended environment. 747 takes it for sound.

- Without any music playing, the OVC H15 suppressed sound more effectively than the 747. Voices were more muffled, background noises less prominent, and overall the impression was of greater silence. This was especially noticeable with higher frequency noises like metal clinking, which were notably less suppressed on the 747. While fairly close, the H15's ANC performance was a step up from what the 747 offers.

- In terms of build I find them both quite good. I prefer the 747's metal shells and more traditional design over the H15's plastic shells and odd (but ergonomic) shape. The H15's cable, even if it is fabric, simply feels better suited to the purpose of these earphones and like it will last longer. I give a slight edge to the H15, almost solely due to the cable.

- The H15's ergonomics take a hit versus the 747. The housings are larger and use proprietary tips which feature built-in silicone fins which tuck into your outer ear. I find them fairly equally comfortable, but the H15 takes more effort to put in your ear, and both the large housings and fins will reduce compatibility with a number of smaller ears. The 747's more traditional design, tips, and general fit win out here.

- One area the 747 simply cannot compete with the H15 is battery life. The 10 hours you will get out of the 747 will be enough for most, but OVC gets 60 hours out of the H15. It's entirely achievable too. H15 easily takes the cake here.

Comparison Summary: The 747 is a step up from the Mixcder G5 with a more ergonomic and comfortable fit, slightly better ANC performance, and improved battery life. They sound similar, but with the 747 featuring an additional layer of refinement. I really enjoy the G5, but the 747 could be considered a direct upgrade. Sorry Mixcder, but the G5 has been replaced in my lineup.

The 747 and H15 make for a more fair comparison. If you're a road warrior, the H15 is the one to get. The extra durability, battery life, and improved ANC performance are too much to pass up. Just be prepared for a thinner, less bassy sound and a more finicky fit due to the H15's less traditional design and ear guide laden tips. If you simply want a traditional earphone with a smooth bassy signature, one that also just so happens to have a great active noise cancelling feature attached, the 747 should be your pick.

DSC02014.JPG DSC02331.JPG DSC02332.JPG
Final Thoughts:

At 60 USD, it would be asking a lot for more from the 747. Not only does it's bassy, spacious sound come across as easy on the ears, perfect for their intended use, but the rest of the package is a win as well. It has effective active noise cancelling, a decent 10 hour battery life with fairly short 1 hour charge time, a durable aluminum build, and the smallest, least intrusive ANC module I have yet seen. Add to that a heap of accessories that are actually useful and the 747 seems like a well-rounded package doesn't it? Yes. Yes it does.

If you want a sub-100 USD earphone with a useful active noise cancelling element, the 747 should be right up there for consideration.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler

**** ***** ***** ***** *****

Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)

Attachments

  • DSC01995.JPG
    DSC01995.JPG
    1.4 MB · Views: 0
  • DSC01997.JPG
    DSC01997.JPG
    1.4 MB · Views: 0
  • DSC01998.JPG
    DSC01998.JPG
    4.8 MB · Views: 0
  • DSC02004.JPG
    DSC02004.JPG
    5 MB · Views: 0
magistern
magistern
Very nice review. Keep it up!

ryanjsoo

Reviewer for The Headphone List
ryanjsoo's Reviews
Pros: Great Noise Cancelling, Rich sound even in loud environments, Compact design and ANC module, Comfortable, Tremendous value
Cons: Will be overly bassy for some, Laid-back high-end misses details, Mediocre battery life
Introduction –

Advanced Sound are a relative newcomer in the audio scene but one who have surprising presence and range given their age. Their products are wildly varied yet all that I’ve had experience with have been pleasantly surprising; well integrating smart features and well-executing innovations that we’ve seen pioneered elsewhere but fully realised here. To clarify this statement, the most outstanding aspect of Adv is their pricing, almost all of their models lying under $100 USD.

So far, I’ve tested a few ANC in-ears around this price. However, though a select few such as the OVC H15 have left me impressed with their noise cancelling abilities, most were mediocre at best when it came to listening experience. The 747 is Adv’s first active noise cancelling product and one that hopes to remedy this, utilising mammoth 13mm dynamic drivers and a noise cancelling module that doubles as an amplifier. And, with an asking price of just $60 USD, the 747 is immensely attainable. Let’s see whether Adv’s latest is their greatest yet.



Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Hannah from Advanced Sound very much for her quick communication and for providing me with the 747 for the purpose of review. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the earphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.



Accessories –

The 747 has an unboxing similar to their other in-ears like the Model 3 with punchy renders set to a clean white background.

dsc06357.jpg


Adv also provide a frequency response graph in addition to specifications and features on the rear. Inside is a large zippered hard case that stores the entire accessory set.

dsc06358.jpg


The 747 has quite a comprehensive tip selection with 3 pairs of silicone tips, 3 pairs of dual flange tips and 3 pairs of more isolating foam tips. Adv provide 3 types of tips that offer varying isolation and practicality.

dsc06363.jpg


They also come with a micro-usb charging cable and a nice aeroplane adapter. In use, the tips are well-moulded and comfortable and the case is protective with room to spare for a small player. The 747 is outfit with everything the user might need on the road.



Design –

Despite housing advanced ambient noise microphones in addition to large 13mm dynamic drivers, the 747’s are surprisingly orthodox in both design and fit. You won’t find unwieldy housings here nor do they protrude significantly from the ear. Instead, the 747 is compact and streamlined with great structural solidity. They also sport a traditional design and fit that will be familiar to any earphone user, where some competing models have a learning curve.

dsc06382.jpg


The housings themselves are especially compact for a noise cancelling in-ear and smoothly tapered in design. The seams are well-matched and no comfort-compromising edges are present. They employ a tactile sandblasted aluminium finish with soft-touch plastic on their inner faces. In this instance, Adv’s use of plastic does not diminish the feel of the earphones, rather helping to keep weight manageable and reduce that cool sensation when the earphones are first inserted into the ear.

dsc06381.jpg


The nozzles are of average length and bore size, fitting the vast majority of tips such as Sony Hybrids and Spinfits in addition to Comply Foams. They produce a shallower fit geared for long-term comfort over vacuum-like seal but the 747’s actually isolate quite well even when ANC isn’t enabled. They are also a very comfortable earphone, forming no hotspots even after hours of listening.

dsc063851.jpg


Advanced have outfit the 747 with a very nice cable, it isn’t removable but has a sturdy thickness that avoids becoming cumbersome during portable use. They also have an inline mic with multi-function button for convenience. But what most impresses is their incredibly compact noise cancelling module. Similar to in-ears like the H15 and QC20, the module lies near the 3.5mm plug, intended to stack behind the source device. However, Adv’s implementation is super sleek and compact with solid metal housings, a tactile textured ANC switch and non-obtrusive power LED. At the rear is the micro-usb charging port with a protective cover and, despite the unit’s small size, battery life is a respectable 10hrs.

dsc06416.jpg


In real-world use, I managed to meet that claim and occasionally exceed it by an hour or so. This is a little shorter than competitors but they can be used like a regular in-ear when their battery is depleted and they can function whilst charging without introducing additional whine or other noise. In addition, Adv offer an optional $20 carry case called the Power Pouch that integrates an 800mah power bank with micro-usb cable. It only outputs at 500mAh so it won’t do much for a modern smartphone, but Adv claim it will top up their wireless and noise cancelling in-ear 7 times; I went through 5 cycles with charge to spare. It’s a nice little accessory that makes using battery powered earphones just a little less worrisome.



Noise Cancelling –

Alongside the 1More DD ANC that I recently reviewed, my 9hr flight from Sydney to Japan also served as the perfect test environment for the 747’s noise cancelling performance. If you aren’t familiar with active noise cancelling technology, the earphones use microphones and lightning fast calculations to analyse incoming noise and produce an inverse waveform that cancels out that ambient sound through destructive interference. These solutions mainly target lower-frequency noise such as the drone of engines or the whirring of air-conditioning, making them a top choice for frequent travellers. Again, I don’t find the 747’s to block as much noise as my trusty Bose QC20’s but they did do a fine job cancelling noise during my flight, matching the more expensive headset in many regards.

dsc06391.jpg


In addition, though activating ANC does slightly alter the sound, with the module doubling as an amplifier, this doesn’t increase noise nor does it introduce any artificial DSP into the mix. Instead, the 747 gets a few dB louder and sounds a little more vibrant with slightly enhanced clarity when compared to my phone’s stock output (ANC disabled). It also means they sound very consistent between sources though the internal AMP can be stacked with a more powerful DAP to produce louder volumes. As for the ANC itself, they don’t cover an especially wide frequency range like the 1More and Bose in-ears, but they do claim to block more noise overall; 25dB as opposed to 20dB. In addition, the 747’s passively block the most noise without ANC enabled, so they do block a lot of noise overall despite their slightly less comprehensive active component.

OVC H15: The H15 is a terrific budget noise canceller but it does have the least aggressive noise cancelling solution in comparison to the following models. Passive isolation with ANC disabled is also just modest, higher than the 1More’s but not they aren’t nearly as isolating as the ADV 747’s and higher-frequencies such as voices and the hissing of air conditioning are less attenuated as a result. With noise cancellation enabled, they still attenuate the least noise in this comparison but they are the cheapest and aren’t affected by wind noise at all.

The H15 produced no audio glitches with ANC enabled even over months of testing. Moreover, they lack the sense of pressure usually exerted by ANC in-ears. Their main downfall stems from their sound, their ANC ability is affected by their inbuilt bass boost which noticeably reduces noise cancelling performance when enabled. However, they do sound somewhat bass-deficient without it, not ideal when listening for hours in a noisier environment.

1More ANC: 1More offers the most advanced, aggressive noise cancelling solution save for the Bose QC20. With ANC off, they block very little noise so the electronics have to compensate to silence ambient noise. Luckily, 1More’s implementation is excellent, and the Dual Driver’s easily block the most low-frequency noise; drones and hums that remain clearly audible on the other in-ears are essentially silenced on the 1More’s. Their noise-cancelling also covers the widest spectrum of sound but, due to deficient passive isolation, they still don’t lower higher frequencies hissing particularly well. That said, voices are well attenuated, more so than the 747 and H15 if slightly less so than the Bose. The 747’s do lower hissing and the rush of air-conditioning more though it ultimately comes down to preference as the 1More’s hold an equally strong advantage with regards to lower and midrange frequencies.

And, as they possess the most aggressive noise cancelling, they are also the most susceptible to audio glitches. For instance, wind noise is the most amplified and they produce frequent pops during changes in cabin pressure or closing bus/train doors. On the flipside, at least the 1More’s don’t create much pressure during wear. And despite these artefacts, my main gripe with the 1More is that they produce a reasonably noticeable hiss when ANC is enabled and often boost high-frequency noise rather than cancelling it out, something I haven’t experienced with any of the other in-ears. Luckily, 1More is able to update the firmware on the Dual Driver ANC, they’re a great performer as is but I’m hoping these issues will be improved or fixed in future.

ADV 747: The 747 offers the most passive isolation with ANC disabled and therefore blocks the most high-frequency noise. Its ANC implementation is also very well-judged with similar if not slightly greater potency than the H15, and the 747 offers the most noise attenuation of the bunch throughout the whole audio spectrum. With ANC enabled, hissing and higher voices are reduced in amplitude and low-frequency drones are drastically attenuated. They hold a notable advantage over the H15 in high and midrange-frequency attenuation but their ability to drown out low-frequency droning is only slightly greater. In use, the 747 produces a small sense of pressure that is noticeable but not irksome, however, when outside, wind noise is slightly amplified.

They also didn’t produce any glitches due to changing cabin pressure or slamming doors on public transport as the 1More and Bose in-ears tended to. For my personal tastes, the 747 provided the most desirable noise attenuating performance combining great ANC with good passive high-frequency isolation. Of note, the 747 can also be equipped with more isolating foam ear tips. With foams, they’re almost comparable to the Bose QC20 and even block more sound in some frequency ranges. This is specific to the 747 as the OVC, Bose and 1More earphones all use unique nozzle shapes and designs that don’t permit third-party tips; the 747 can fit any tip most to your liking.



Sound –

dsc06375.jpg


Tonality –

The 747 pursues an L-shaped tone with large bass emphasis, somewhat recessed mids and smooth highs that avoid fatigue during longer listening. Their low-end is mostly mid-bass focussed but elevated upper-bass produces a notably thick, warm midrange. Highs are laid-back and reserved in presence, with slight crispness preceding roll-off and truncation. They aren’t as balanced as the 1More Dual Driver ANC, they aren’t even as balanced as the Bose QC20. That said, their thick, bassy sound excels when ambient noise starts to creep up in volume, retaining a rich low-end in even the loudest environment.



Bass –

Utilising enormous 13mm dynamic drivers, the 747 carries bass-head levels of emphasis making it a creature of warmth and impact over articulation and finesse. Sub-bass is well extended with physical slam and surprisingly controlled rumble considering their level of emphasis. Mid-bass holds the greatest weighting in the entire sound creating a very warm, thick low-end with great impact. This precedes a small dip into the upper-bass though these frequencies remain heightened over neutral and the lower midrange, producing some spill and noticeable colouration.

Through this style of tuning, bloat is clearly apparent and the 747 doesn’t have the tightest bass response, but they aren’t overly flabby and do present with awesome richness in all environments whether quiet or loud. They also aren’t especially defined, bass presents more through tones than textured notes and they are easily overwhelmed during faster tracks. Bass does clearly lack some nuance and separation but this is still a tonally pleasing response that many will love and enjoy. It’s also a sound that works exceptionally well for the earphone’s intended uses even if they can be overly bass heavy in quieter environments.



Mids –

As a result of their bass emphasis, the 747’s midrange is comparatively recessed with a warm, thick presentation. The 747’s aren’t especially balanced but remain mostly linear through the midrange frequencies. Their thickness is also offset by enhanced clarity on account of a slightly brighter tonal tilt and a lower treble lift. Through this, vocals sound chesty and instruments organic, but all are enhanced by a little extra air and separation that prevent outright veil and congestion. They still aren’t particularly transparent or revealing on account of their thickness though, due to their mostly linear tuning, the 747’s midrange is quite naturally voiced with no wonkiness to vocals.

dsc06370.jpg

Through this, male vocals do sound thick and a little dry, lacking some definition, and instruments such as guitar tend to have excess bloom, diminishing separation. That said, though similarly full-bodied and warm, female vocals are presented with greater clarity and extension, producing a very agreeable listen. This is topped off with improved if not outstanding upper midrange layering and an exceptional smoothness throughout imbued by their laid-back, linear tuning. Though they do skip over a lot of details, the 747’s midrange is warm, pleasant and inoffensive with no glaring faults and some interesting qualities enhancing listenability.



Treble –

Treble is notably laid-back with just a very slight lower treble bump serving to enhance detail presentation much like the 1More DD ANC. That said, the 747 doesn’t extend as linearly as the 1More, lacking the same air, separation and resolution. As a result, though instruments such as guitars and cymbals sound relatively clean, the clash and subsequent shimmer sound dampened and truncated. Moreover, elements sitting around the middle treble frequencies are both thinned out and distant while upper treble is almost absent entirely. This partly contributes to the 747’s midrange congestion as the similarly tuned 1More manages higher definition and separation through greater balance and by extending its treble further.

Otherwise, detail retrieval is pleasing, the 747’s have above average attack to their lower-treble even if they roll-off significantly above it. As such, treble clarity suffers and elements aren’t especially delineated, but the 747 is again, natural and tonally pleasing if not technically outstanding. Ultimately, this is a style of tuning designed to be listened to for hours on end, potentially at elevated listening volumes; and the 747 manages to deliver just enough nuance to deter dullness without invoking stridence, sibilance or fatigue. Of course, they aren’t at all suited towards any kind of critical listening, but their smooth tones aren’t hard to enjoy, excelling especially with passive listening in the background.



Soundstage, Imaging and Separation –

The 747 constructs a stage of average to intimate proportions on account of its rolled high-end and slight midrange congestion. Instrument placement is easy to perceive but hardly pinpoint accurate and separation is modest due to their style of tuning. Still, though they aren’t outstanding, they are enjoyable and no particular element is weak to the point of overall compromise.



Driveability –

The 747 combines a 16ohm impedance with an average to low 90dB sensitivity. And though they do connect via a typical 3.5mm plug, the 747 acts much like the 1More Dual Driver ANC due to the ANC module doubling as an amplifier. As a result, they aren’t affected by output impedance and achieve both high listening volumes and a consistent signature from any source. Additionally, ANC and amplification barely introduce any noise unlike competitors from Bose and 1More that are quite apparent.



Comparisons –

dsc06362.jpg


OVC H15 ($50): The 747 has significantly better build quality throughout and a more orthodox fit. That said, the H15 is very stable and equally comfortable due to its exceptionally soft tips with stabilising wings. The H15 is quite an oddity, delivering a sound that is balanced and clear if a little bright overall. This contrasts to the thick, bassy sound produced by the 747.

As a result, the H15 sounds more detailed and resolving in quiet environments, but in noisier conditions, their leaner bass is drowned out almost entirely leaving them thin and a little fatiguing. The 747 on the other hand, sounds bassy at home and remains rich in louder environments. It’s smooth high end is not nearly as nuanced and it’s stage is more intimate, but the 747’s warm sound is more listenable long term.

1More Dual Driver ANC ($150): The 1More takes design and build to the next level, easily offering the more premium experience of the two. It’s fit is also pretty standard and similarly comfortable but it can only be used with IOS devices and has no internal battery. Sonically though, they do a lot to redeem themselves, they also aren’t a super revealing earphone, but are immensely balanced and detailed amongst noise cancelling kin.

Both earphones have a similar signature but the 1More is a lot more balanced between bass, mids and highs. As a result, bass is still warm and engaging but more defined with greater articulation. Mids are clearer, especially lower mids, and clarity is much improved. Treble is most improved with far greater extension delivering more clarity, separation and soundstage space. The 1More very masterfully balances nuance with listenability but it does lack some of the richness of the 747 as a result.

Final E2000 ($40): The E2000 is a sensational non-ANC in-ear within a similar price range. Being semi-open, noise isolation is just average, especially compared to the world silencing 747, but build quality is nice, with solid aluminium housings. Unfortunately, their thin cable is downright flimsy. But it’s in listening that the E2000 really shines; it is immediately more balanced and engaging with a V-shaped signature contrasting to the smooth, laid-back 747. Their low-end is less physical, but bass is tight and agile with much higher definition to every note. Mids are slightly warm but clearer and more transparent than the thicker 747.

Highs are far more extended, resolving details within the highest registers that the 747 doesn’t even reproduce. As such, the E2000 offers a larger stage with greater separation between instruments and vocals. The E2000 definitely makes for the more nuanced listen, but it doesn’t offer nearly enough isolation in louder environments and its build isn’t ideal for portable use. These earphones have very different applications and this is reflected in their respective designs. Still, both are immensely impressive considering their asking prices; one could buy both and have a very solid home and travel setup for under $100.



Verdict –

The 747 offers everything I’d want from an affordable active noise cancelling earphone. It has a compact, pragmatic and perfectly comfortable design, and a thick yet pliable cable that has proven to be hard-wearing during portable use. The noise cancelling module is also incredibly compact without affecting its effectiveness, and battery life is easily adequate for plane trips, especially when paired with Advanced’s own Power Pouch. Furthermore, the 747’s possess incredible noise attenuating abilities comparable to earphones costing many times more.

dsc06366.jpg


Most importantly, the 747 delivers a rich, guttural sound that retains its fullness in louder environments, producing a dynamic sound wherever you choose to listen. They aren’t balanced or resolving like the similarly priced Zero Audio Carbo Tenore or Final E2000, but they do serve up dynamics and impact for hours and hours with zero fatigue and minimal interference from external noise. These aren’t an audiophile monitor, but they are perfectly adapted towards their intended uses.

Verdict – 9/10, The 747 belies its meagre asking price in noise cancelling ability. And though it doesn’t challenge pricier models in sonic fidelity, they have a pleasant, smooth sound with surprising refinement that avoids dullness or fatigue. For $60, I couldn’t ask for much more, these are an absolute steal for any buyer looking into an affordable noise cancelling in-ear.

The Advanced Sound 747 can be purchased from their website here for $60 USD. I am not affiliated with Adv and receive no earnings from purchases through this link.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my review, please see my blog for more just like it:

https://everydaylistening.net/2017/12/19/adv-747-review-personal-sanctuary/
Back
Top