Victor's new 3.9g earbuds add hybrid ANC and redesigned 10mm drivers

Making wireless earbuds smaller usually means finding ways to fit the same components into less space. Victor's new HA-A30T3 takes a slightly different approach: shrinking the earbuds while increasing the size of their drivers by more than 60%.

Announced by JVC Kenwood in Japan, the new model replaces the HA-A30T2 introduced in 2024. Each earbud now weighs approximately 3.9g, down from 4.5g, while the driver diameter has increased from 6mm to 10mm. Victor has also shortened the sound nozzle and redesigned the housing to prevent the earbuds from protruding as far from the ears. The company says this improves comfort and stability when using touch controls.

Another significant upgrade is hybrid active noise cancellation, which combines two microphones to detect and reduce environmental noise. Five sound profiles are available, including Bass, Clear and Vocal, while Bluetooth 6.0, multipoint connectivity and a low-latency mode round out the specifications.

Battery life reaches nine hours per charge, or 24.5 hours with the case, when noise cancellation is disabled. With ANC enabled, those figures drop to seven and 19 hours, respectively. A quick 10-minute charge provides up to 75 minutes of playback with ANC off.

Another significant upgrade is hybrid active noise cancellation, which combines two microphones to detect and reduce environmental noise. Five sound profiles are available, including Bass, Clear and Vocal, while Bluetooth 6.0, multipoint connectivity and a low-latency mode round out the specifications. Battery life reaches 9 hours per charge, or 24.5 hours with the case, when noise cancellation is disabled. With ANC enabled, those figures drop to 7 and 19 hours, respectively. A quick 10-minute charge provides up to 75 minutes of playback with ANC off.

The HA-A30T3 also carries an IPX4 splash-resistance rating and comes in five colors, including teal green and brushed pink. Sales in Japan are expected to begin in mid-November, with a projected price of ¥11,000 (approximately $70). International availability has not been confirmed.

Larger drivers don't automatically guarantee better sound, but squeezing them into smaller, lighter earbuds is an interesting engineering choice. Whether Victor's improvements sound as good as they look on paper remains to be heard.