When it comes to portable audio, the market has been extremely competitive, with products frequently offering better quality at ever more affordable prices. As someone who’s fairly sensitive to audio quality, I’ve mostly stuck to wired connections unless I’m out and about, in which case I usually prefer something with active noise cancelling and support for something more than the baseline SBC audio codec, which for Android users often means LDAC.

While my QCY MeloBuds Pro have been serving me well, its lack of multi-point connectivity when LDAC is enabled is a bit unfortunate, while its ANC is adequate but not particularly outstanding. As a result, I shifted over to the Earfun Air Pro 3 for a while, as its aptX Adaptive worked well with my Qualcomm-based phones with no limitations in multi-point connectivity.

But it would seem that QCY is not one to rest on their laurels, launching the new MeloBuds N70 on 26th August. This version improves on the last with a new dual-driver architecture featuring a 10mm dynamic driver and a MEMS tweeter for crisper treble. It features the latest Bluetooth v6.0 connectivity and even though the site doesn’t say it (yet), it features LDAC, AAC and SBC codec support, so all bases are covered, with multi-point connectivity. The new chipset it uses also promises a wideband ANC that has even deeper reduction than the previous – a claimed 56dB. Runtime is “up to 50 hours” with USB-C and wireless charging. That seems like everything I’ve been asking for!

A little before the launch, QCY generously supplied a unit for review under the review challenge terms. As a result, I’ve had the better part of a month to enjoy the QCY MeloBuds N70 to see how I like them.

Unboxing

The unit is packaged in a full-colour graphic gift style box with the product featuring in the hero image. Logos indicating Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, LDAC support and Google Fast Pair support are in the top left, while the row underneath advertises its 3-mic adaptive ANC, dual acoustic driver architecture and wireless charging support.

The rear of the box indicates the inclusions, specifications and certifications. No charger is included (as expected) and a 2-5W charger is required. This N70 is black in colour as indicated on the barcode label (6957141410868), underneath is an anti-counterfeiting label.

The side of the box has their slogan, “Be Creative Go Beyond”. The top of the box has a plastic hanging tab for retail, while the bottom side has some QR codes to download the app and visit their official website.

The box lifts up to reveal the charging case wrapped in a protective wax paper inside a thin plastic tray, with a cardboard box holding the included accessories.

A user guide is also included. The accessories include four pairs of tips (one pair, medium size, is already pre-fitted) and a short USB-A to USB-C cable for charging.

Despite the unit being called “black”, it’s actually more of a metallic dark blue-grey. It’s a rather aesthetically nice colour, especially offset by the chrome band. On the front, there is a light pipe for an indication LED.

The rear hinge is where the QCY brand is subtly shown. The build quality and fit of the case is very impressive – it feels very smooth in the hand and the hinge action snaps open and closed confidently. The metallic shell seems an especially good choice to withstand the torture of travelling around in a bag with other items.

A USB-C charging port is located on the underside with the single control button used for pairing or resetting the unit.

The earbuds are packed inside the case for transportation. To prevent inadvertent activation or loss of charge, the terminals are insulated with a plastic self-adhesive film which must be removed prior to use.

Approvals and other product information are printed in the top of the case – a place that doesn’t spoil the aesthetics of the product.

Meanwhile, the case uses magnets internally to keep the earbuds in place and the cover closed. To assist with placement of the earbuds, there is an L and R mark in the plastic.

The contacts are along the stem and appear to be slide/wipe contacts with a long contact area. This should make for reliable contacts – especially compared to small pogo pins which might easily be defeated by a bit of dirt or oxidation.

The earbuds themselves have a two-tone design, with a mostly metallic-matte finish body offset by a mirror-finish outer stem. The QCY branding is at the end of the stems – noticeable, but not too conspicuous. The feed-forward microphone opening is visible on the rear.

The large charging contacts are visible at the end of the stems, alo