The Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC were one of the first technological innovations of this early 2021, among other things already ready for the market, immediately after the presentation, which we talked about at the time.
As promised we have been testing them for a couple of weeks and are here to bring our impressions back to the hot spot.
Packaging, ten and praise
Although the Fresh 'n Rebel market segment is certainly that of a young audience, both for the design and for a shrewd use of the product (and also for the budget), it must be said that the packaging has really surprised us.
The use of packaging, rubber and how to open the box is really important for a product of this range and a clean cut to the past where Fresh 'n Rebel was a very pragmatic and young brand.
Inside the package we find the headphones, in our case of a garnet red color (or Ruby Red), the USB-C charging cable and an analogue via jack, as well as a small carrying bag.
There is no support App, which is a bit of a shame, but the Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC are all about simplicity: a piece of paper shows the main operations for Bluetooth pairing and how to use the headphones for music, and in two minutes flat the headphones are ready and connected, and we already know how to use them.
How they are made
Aesthetically, the Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC are a pair of supra-aural headphones with a somewhat classic look: the outer material is in plastic, but well painted with opacity and gloss effects that bring out both the brand (in the pavilions) and the writing (above the arch.
The inner core of the bow is made of metal, which is seen when the headphones are opened to fit the head, in a well-balanced game of plastic and metal.
The pads are, says Fresh 'n Rebel, of vegan leather, a sort of plant-based alternative to the classic leather: it rests well on the ear and partly because of the external temperature and partly because of the fact that they do not cover the whole body. ear, sweating was very relative (which is good) even if the writer found the closing angle of the upper arch perhaps a little too accentuated so much that it tightens a little (but it could depend on the size of the head.
The materials are pleasant to the touch and, although apparently delicate, they performed well even during an accidental fall, which left no visible marks: considering the audience they are aimed at, it seems an important detail.
The controls are distributed between the two pavilions: on the left volume, playback and ignition with jack connector while on the right the button for noise cancellation and USB-A / USB-C charging (whose cable is only for recharging, not carries data).
Music
In the musical examination of the Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC we put on our hat as young teenagers and we also tried to understand not only the response of the headphones, but also the question of the average user for which they are intended.
The sound quality is very good, even if at times a little too important on the low frequencies and this occasionally affects the judgment also on the medium and high frequencies.
With pumped and bass-rich songs the headphones sound very good and you want to turn up the volume, while on more delicate songs some higher notes are a bit sacrificed.
For example, Måneskin's “Morirò da Re” is heard very well, both in the voice and in the music, while “Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister is good, even if Richard Page's voice appears a bit subdued. The same in Claudio Baglioni's “Le vie dei colori” is a bit too covered by bass while the cover “It will be because I love you” (sung by Carolina Marquez!) Is definitely well balanced both in the voice and in the music.
Even more distinctive tracks like Evancescence's “Wasted on You” deliver a good result while Clinton Shorter's “The Expanse Theme” is a bit bass-burdened, even if the crystalline tones of Lisbeth Scott's vocals remain clear and full.
The destination of these headphones finally appears clearer than ever when listening to fairly complex songs like Taylor Swift's “The Archer”, which feels good, with the right body: the target market is this and this is probably where they worked more those of Fresh 'n Rebel in equalizing the audio response of the headphones.
Finally, a particular merit regarding the audio of the films, which we liked a lot: by activating the ANC (on which we will return very soon) we enjoyed titles like “The Expanse” and “Supernatural” (both on Amazon Prime Video ) and we can say that the headphones performed very well in this area.
Silence in the room
The ANC (Active Noise Canceling) chip incorporated in the Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC is a feature that is increasingly popular in headphones, starting with the most expensive models and also arriving in the cheaper ones.
Not that before the Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC the market did not have budget models with ANC, but in this case it is a strong push in this sense, with a strong brand, especially in the youth sector (where the ANC is perhaps still little known) and especially on a model under 100 Euros.
Obviously, miracles cannot be worked and clearly this model offers clear compromises: noise cancellation is contained and, rather than actual “cancellation”, we are talking about a fairly clear cut of external frequencies.
To give an example, we activated the function (thanks to the button on the left pavilion) in a roundabout with very heavy car traffic and it was like moving, instantly, a hundred meters from there.
The noise appears very distant, and consequently less bulky. To tell the truth, everything appears more distant (even if at different distances): a friend who speaks can be heard, but very muffled and so other types of sounds such as a vacuum cleaner, while for example the clicking of the keyboard or the hum of a fan.
On balance, a good result, excellent if we consider the price range, which perhaps with time will improve with the advancement of technology but which already now offers an interesting result, even if far from that offered by the more capable models, on far more important price ranges.
The most important negative side of the ANC is that it consumes a lot, almost halving the autonomy, which remains good (more than a day of listening on a single charge, 2 hours for recharging) even when messy. When you download, however, there is the Jack cable ready to use (and a Jack Lightning adapter for iPhone or Jack USB-C for those with Android).
Considerations
Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC is a good product, which follows the line of the parent company with a youthful look and presence, with perhaps higher quality and technology than one would expect from the selling price.
The attention to detail is high and the controls are simple and practical: the choice of colors, together with the quality offered make it a product that will certainly have no problems even in the Italian market and that, above all, will introduce the younger groups to the use of ANC, something that, once tried, it is difficult to deprive yourself.
Pro:
• Excellent price / performance ratio • Simple to use, hassle free • Available in six colors • With active noise cancellation
Cons:
Price:
• 99.00 Euro
More info on the Fresh 'n Rebel Code ANC on the website of the parent company: users can easily buy them on Amazon in the various colors Steel Blue, Ruby Red (subject of this test), Dusty Pink, Misty Mint, Silky Sand and Storm Gray.
