For the past week I’ve been trying out the new Marshall Monitor III ANC over ear headphones. The new cans are available to buy right now in the US and UK for $349 / £299, which makes them a little pricier than their predecessors which were $30 / £30 cheaper. Even with the price rise they’re an excellent follow-up to 2020’s Monitor II ANC headphones – which we gave four stars in our review – thanks to great-sounding audio and a stupendously long battery-life.
Starting on that last point, these new Marshall headphones can go for a ridiculously long time; we’re talking a 70 hour battery life when using them to play music over Bluetooth with ANC on, 100 hours with it off.
For comparison, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones promise only 30 hours with ANC on, and the Apple AirPods Max just 20 hours. The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 that features in our best noise-cancelling headphones guide as the ideal long-life option hits 60 hours. Marshall’s 70-hour claim looks to hold up too; I’ve been using the Monitor III ANC headphones a lot and haven’t needed to charge them since I did straight after unboxing them – though when I do my full review I plan to properly test how long these cans can last.
But what good is lasting a long time if they don’t put on a performance? Thankfully the Marshall Monitor III ANC headphones certainly hold their own here.
The drivers give drum and bass hits like Backbone from Chase & Status and Stormzy the oomph its thumping tones necessitate, while not overpowering tracks like Remi Wolf’s Cinderella that are brimming with bouncy funk. There’s a warmth in the Marshall Monitor III’s audio too – which comes through splendidly in more emotional tracks like Jarki Monno’s Charlie.
(Image credit: Marshall)
Outside of music, these cans perform well too. Podcasts, film, TV, YouTube videos, you name it – the Marshall III ANC headphones are putting on a good show.
That said, if you do want to tweak the EQ settings, you can change them to better suit your musical needs, though I’ve found the default 'original Marshall sound' setting is really well balanced and ideal for a lot of different listening experiences.
The soundstage has also had a tune up. Marshall’s previous Monitors had a somewhat restrictive stage. They didn’t feel completely closed off, but trackers were not always given the space they needed to breathe. Out of the box the Monitor IIIs might look like they repeat this error, but with the official app you can now open up that soundstage to suit your likings.
There’s a noticeable change with this Adaptive Soundstage feature switch on, so make sure you turn it on as soon as you can. Songs feel more spacious, and it makes the Monitor III ANC headphones solid picks for watching your favorite films or shows.
Not my style – but a fantastic design
Design-wise the Monitor IIIs admittedly aren’t my preferred style. There is something to love about the undoubtable Marshall look – with the same finish as the iconic amps, the logo on each ear cup, and a kind of classic grunginess that makes these look almost like they’ve been ripped from a rock band’s studio session from decades ago. It’s just not for me.
(Image credit: Marshall)
That’s subjective though; the objective design features of these ’phones are undoubtedly positive.
I love the physical knob for the volume and playback controls – give me one of these over tap controls any day. There are also two dedicated buttons, one on each side, that manage the active noise cancellation controls (with you being able to set which modes it swaps between in the app), and a customizable M Button (which can do whatever you set it to do, again in the app).
There’s also a USB-C port on the underside of the left cup, however, you won’t find a 3.5mm aux port.
Beyond the button layout, these cans are designed to be thrown in a bag and taken on adventure. Their headband can survive fairly extreme bending and twisting without snapping, and the outer shell can take a fair few knocks. They also fold up very tight and fit into what I’ve been told is the smallest case for over ear headphones on the market – inside its lined with a red velvety material to mimic the inside of guitar cases. It’s also one of those proper protective cases that zips up, not an awkward shell that some headphones rely on nowadays.
Oh, and don’t let me forget comfort. These things are so easy to wear thanks to the super-spongy cushions; I’ve had no issue wearing them practically all-day.
Don’t forget the app
To get the most out of these over-ear headphones you need the official Marshall app. It allows you to manage the Soundstage settings, the on-device button controls, the EQ so that music meets your exact specifications (though the default Marshall profile is very good), and a few other features.
It’s fairly standard as headphones apps go at this point, with a clean intuitive interface, and it was very easy to set up.
The only issue I’ve had with any feature is that the Auto Play/Pause tool was initially too sensitive – moving my head at all would cause the Monitor IIIs to pause tracks, not just when I removed them. However, a firmware update does appear to have resolved this issue and for the past few days I’ve been able to keep Auto Play/Pause on without it frustrating me – it can be turned off in the app.
(Image credit: Future / Marshall)
Despite this minor (and seemingly now resolved) set back, the Marshall Monitor III ANC headphones have so far really impressed me. They have the comfort and battery life to keep me wearing them for days on end, and a vibrant sound that I’ll happily immerse myself in for all that time.
I need to conduct a few more tests, but so far I’d say they hold their own against the best wireless headphones, and their small size could make them a great contender to be the best travel headphones. So if you’re thinking of grabbing a new pair of cans this is looking like another model to add to your list of ones to consider.
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I was once told that only a poor writer starts with a quote. So forgive me, because this one (from author and leadership mentor John C. Maxwell) explains my thoughts on Bowers & Wilkins' Pi8 far better than I could: A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.
A lot has been corrected here, and it takes a big man (or woman, or person) to do it. TechRadar reviews typically begin with the bold claims made by a product's marketing team, and end with whether or not we felt the performance lived up to the hype. But B&W has approached this iteration with such humility, honesty and determination (rather than nonchalance and bravado) that I cannot do that. What I can tell you – and with some joy – is that the Pi8 are some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds I've ever tested.
They are, as you'll probably have guessed, completely unlike their older siblings. Gone are the Swiss watch-style embellishments and metallic circular top plates of the Pi7 and Pi5 (and the Pi5 S2 and Pi7 S2), which looked beautiful in my hand but didn't work in my ear canal. Bowers & Wilkins has effectively started from scratch this time around, deploying the services of the same in-house team that created its PX7 S2 and sublime PX8 over-ear headphones – a set of cans I said "look stunning and sound even better" under intense review.
Has the gamble worked? While I'd love to stretch this two-minute verdict out, let's face it, the star rating at the top of this review is kind of a giveaway. Yes, it has. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are now as physically comfortable and secure as they are sonically detailed and dynamically agile.
Also, you now get on-ear volume control. I've been knocking B&W's decision to leave this off the spec sheet since 2021, which meant that even with the company's most elite earbuds, I had to rifle through my bag to alter the volume, while propositions at a fifth of the price could do it. And now that's fixed. Okay, you have to choose whether you want the tap-and-hold gesture of either earbud to tweak volume (left down; right up) or scroll between ANC and passthrough in the left bud, and voice assistant activation in the right, but I don't care – at least, not enough to knock a half-star off.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are a five-star set of earbuds all day long, even at their considerable price point.
(Image credit: Future)
A quick bit about their corresponding Pi6 siblings, which were unveiled (as is B&W's tradition) on the same day: aptX Lossless support is reserved for the flagship Pi8.Also, while the slightly cheaper Pi6 feature new 12mm bio-cellulose drivers (based on tech used in the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e, B&W's 2023 update to the aforementioned PX7 S2 over-ears), the Pi8 get an upgraded DAC, DSP and amplifier components from ADI, meaning they effectively bypass Qualcomm's digital-to-analog converter. You also get the carbon cone drive unit technology first used in the excellent top-tier PX8 over-ear headphones in the Pi8 – see the design language carried over from that in-house team?
The Pi8 also offer the case retransmission function first seen in the Pi7 and January 2023-issue Pi7 S2. This lets you ping audio to the earbuds wirelessly but without Bluetooth, from connected analog or digital sources, (in-flight entertainment systems, gym equipment, newer USB-C-enabled iPhones, and so on). It's not the first case capable of doing the retransmission dance – see the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 or LG Tone Free T90S for more examples – but B&W's case goes a step beyond, by retransmitting in aptX Adaptive (ie. up to 24-bit/96kHz quality). It's quite the upgrade if you care about streaming quality – and with earbuds as capable (and aspirational) as the Pi8, you really should.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review: Price & release date
Unveiled on August 21, 2024
Priced$399 / £349 / AU$599
Admittedly, the Pi8 are not cheap. The best one can say about the asking price is that the 2021 Pi7 launched at the same $399 / £349 / AU$699, so it's refreshing to see that Bowers & Wilkins hasn't hiked the price – although that's still top-end in today's money, to be sure.
The cheaper Pi6 became available on September 15, priced at $249 / £219 / AU$449, which is more palatable, but remember that you don't get the flagship features or hardware, as detailed above.
What else can this kind of money buy? Why, competition is rife up here, friend! Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds come in at $299 / £299 / AU$449; Technics' excellent EAH-AZ80 are also in the same ballpark, at $299 / £259 / AU$499 and the Final ZE8000 MK2 (our pick for the best-sounding buds we've ever tested) are $399 / £289 (around AU$609), where available.
Suffice to say, it's tough at the top. But that's where B&W now finds itself – and the Pi8 are sitting rather prettily up there, it must be said.
(Image credit: Future)
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review: Specs
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review: Features
Excellent case retransmission feature
Effective ANC
Very good call-quality; Music App is a joy to use
Do the Pi8 nix noise as deftly as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the AirPods Pro 2? For me, yes. As I understand it, the Pi8 have received quite the overhaul here – using tech from their PX8 over-ear siblings – and however B&W has implemented this, it works. That cocooned feeling of leaving the outside world behind kicked straight in but without any sense of wind-tunnel nausea or my eardrums being unceremoniously sucked into a vacuum. It's probably also thanks to the hugely improved fit and the seal it creates betwixt those talented drivers and my ear canals (more on this later), but you should know that here, the noise-cancelling is very good.
There’s also a useful 'Pass Through' mode, that lets me hear my colleague talking next to me. You can switch these profiles off entirely, but there’s no capacity to tweak the levels of ANC any further, and no 'adaptive' ANC option. I don't care. When the full-fat version is this good, why get granular and try to tweak things? If you just want something that kicks extraneous noise to the curb so you can revel uninterrupted in your sonic selections, the Pi8 are it.
Now, the case: aside from its no-nonsense, pocketable appeal, you can plug that USB-C port (USB-C to 3.5mm and USB-C cables are in the box) into a non-Bluetooth source, such as an in-flight entertainment system, and it'll double as a wireless audio re-transmitter but in aptX Adaptive transmission up to 24-bit/96kHz quality. Imagine the scene: you're in the middle seat on a long-haul flight, and the window-seat passenger wants to get out. It's fine! Your earbuds are safe in your ears, still sending audio, and your fellow passenger won't trip over long tangling cables – not on your watch!
(Image credit: Future)
What about call quality? I liked it a lot, despite the lack of sidetone-type tech to either boost or minimize my own or the caller's voice manually. The Pi8 have three mics per earbud and B&W says the setup's been upgraded using PX8-flavor tech. For me, even during an off-shore windy day in Woolacombe (never been? It's on the UK's North Devon coastline, surfer hotspot, you should check it out), my caller told me I came through loud and clear.
It's worth noting that there are no ear-tip fit tests, hearing tests for creating personalized sound profiles, or proprietary spatial audio processing here. If you want those things, you'll need to look at options from Bose, JBL, or even Nothing. What you'll find instead is a very good five-band EQ tab and the talented Bowers & Wilkins Music app. This companion app will quickly become the way you access your music since it corrals all of your paid-for music streaming services (so I never need to go to Qobuz or Tidal specifically – it's all here!) and even serves up various "curated by Bowers & Wilkins" playlist selections for your new listening gear.
For better or worse, B&W wants the star of the show to be the untouched and unadulterated sound quality, rather than giving you ways to mess with it. The inclusion of Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Bluetooth 5.4 chipset is a testament to that. But remember, a separate high-performance dedicated DAC/DSP amp has also been thrown in, to swerve that within even the Qualcomm chip. That's the extent to which B&W has taken matters into its own hands regarding the sound quality. While it might not be an ideal proposition for those who know they need to augment certain frequencies right from the box (and would rather have B&W do it for them), those who don't need specific sonic recipes cannot fail to be wowed by the separation, neutrality and sonic clarity here.
If you've got an aptX-compatible source, you'll get much better wireless audio support too, including aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive support at up to 24-bit/96kHz. And as you'll read below, the sound quality here is unparalleled from a wireless earbuds design.
Features score: 4.5/5
Yes, I still love 2003 Laith Al-Deen… (Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review: Sound quality
Separation, detail and clarity in spades
Bass is resolute; mids textured
Noise-cancellation doesn't mar the experience
Rarely will you read a TechRadar section entitled 'Sound' so wholly positive, so prepare yourself: no matter what genre of music I threw at them (and no matter the streaming source) it felt as if the B&W Pi8 had unpacked, weighed, opened out, examined, layered and finally presented my music with the skilled hand of a French pâtissier. The Pi8 buds also didn't seem to care whether they were working with lowly compressed Spotify streams, Tidal Max tracks, Apple Music offerings or Qobuz albums. Everything was served up with a flourish.
In Lupe Fiasco's Cake, bass frequencies in the vocals sink easily as low as Fiasco is able (which is considerable), revealing a bass floor few earbuds can take you to. During the title track, Samurai, I'm struck by the pin-point accuracy of each voice's placement in the mix. Hype men jump out from my ear lobes, my temples and beneath my chin in a raucous and zealous mix.
Switching to Stranger by Hinds and Grian Chatten, jangly guitars and Hinds' ethereal vocal stylings are present and have ample room to shine, joining each other in a cohesive mix but never competing for space. Chatten's voice joins centrally and I'm living inside my head as if at a gig, with the Fontaines D.C. front-man, well, literally in front of me…
Refreshingly, deploying ANC or pass-through doesn't make anything go sonically awry either. Bass is just as resolute in Gunna's collage with pass-through on, a profile that can so often throw a slightly tinny, sweet veil over the audio.
Any downsides? I'm struggling – and we pride ourselves on being tough critics here at TechRadar. For attack, drive, musicality, dynamic nuance, balance across the frequencies, placement, timing, and all the other things I usually talk about where sound is concerned, Bowers & Wilkins' considerable work and back-to-the-drawing-board approach has paid off. Oh, do these earbuds sound good…
Sound quality score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review: Design
Totally reworked driver housings – and it works
On-ear functions require a compromise
Pocketable case
While they might not look as resoundingly premium as the Swiss watch-esque Pi5 or Pi7, the redesign here was necessary. The top surface of each nicely-branded bud is a shiny touch-capacitive button that works very well.
The buds are available in Anthracite Black with silvery accents (the sample pictured here), Dove White, Midnight Blue and Jade Green. It's a plastic build, but of premium matte plastic that seems to murmur 'I'm expensive' when you pluck them from their small, pebble-shaped case.
Bowers & Wilkins came clean to me and admitted it needed to fix some issues in the older iterations: the mic and sensors on the older Pi7 models weren’t in the best position, meaning they could get blocked by the wearer. Remember my quote at the very top of this review? It takes a big company to admit to its mistakes, and it has all been fixed for Pi8.
There's now a little indentation containing a sliver of grille, running the entire circumference of each earpiece and directly under that touch capacitive top plate. Under it are those mics and sensors – as far away from your head and ear folds as it's possible to put them. Neat.
As noted previously, a brand new "trickled down from the PX8" carbon cone driver is at the helm here, and you get four silicone ear tip options in the box: extra small, small, medium and large. I switched to the small set, but since the neck of the earbud isn't long and the design has been so carefully conceived, I don't think the tip size is paramount here. Honestly? I truly feel that B&W has taken a long, hard, humble look at Technics' EAH-AZ80 with 'concha-fit' design for the Pi8. Why do I think this? Because, as with the Technics earbuds, they look a little bulky (and they do weigh 7g each, which isn't light) but they fit just as naturally and unobtrusively. The weight is distributed as evenly as possible so they feel as if they hug your outer ear, once in situ. Simply put: they fit beautifully, and you don't need to keep screwing them further down your delicate ear canal.
The Pi8 offer more battery life than their older siblings – but not much more. The maximum playtime is 6.5 hours from the earbuds and a further 13.5 hours from the case, for 20 hours of total use – but the good news is that those tests are with ANC on. Without it, I got closer to 8.5 hours from a single charge in my testing. For clarity, the Pi7 S2's stamina was 5 hours for the earbuds (ANC off) and an additional 16 hours from the charging case, for a 21-hour total.
I do have one minor negative though, and it's similar to the minor issue I encountered with the JBL Live Beam 3. Basically, you need to ditch a set of functions again. To clarify, you can now get on-ear volume control by long-pressing either Pi8 earbud, but to have it you need to forego scrolling through ANC profiles and access to your voice assistant. On the one hand, I love that I now get on-ear volume support. On the other, I'd also like to have the option to deploy ANC by touching the earbuds as well. And I know it's not too much to ask at this level because the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 can do it.
That's where the complaints end though because when you add in that case retransmission feature, this is a very likeable, comfortable design from Bowers & Wilkins – and a complete rewrite of the playbook that I'm sure did not come easy.
Design score: 4.5/5
The buds are truly comfy, honestly! (Image credit: Future)
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review: Value
Acceptable battery life given the excellent sound
Sound-per-pound, they're winning
If you want hearing tests, you'll be disappointed
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are not cheap. They are earbuds for the listener who wants excellent, unchanged, high-quality audio in a comfortable build. If that's you, the sound here is the best I've heard in a wireless design to date. And if you've got a decent hi-res music service subscription, the B&W Music app will have at it and make your life very easy. Essentially, if you value sound quality above all else, here's where the smart money goes.
However, for battery life, the Pi8 can be beaten by recent options from JBL and Cambridge Audio, and if you want spatial audio mixed in with the ANC, you'll need to look to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
Hearing tests (and the personalized sound profiles they can facilitate, from the Nothing Ear, for example) and ear-tip fit tests are also absent in the Pi8, so if those extras are high on your list of priorities, the value-for-money option lies elsewhere – possibly with Nothing; maybe even with the Denon PerL Pro.
Value score: 4.5/5
Should I buy the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8?
Buy them if...
Don't buy them if...
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Also consider
Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 The ANC is very good indeed here, too – as is the sound quality. And to top it all off, you get the option of Matt Berry on voice prompts (his "Waiting to pair!" is the best you've ever heard). The overall aesthetic isn't as polished (the case is a little bigger) and the fit is good but not exceptional, but the M100's still a viable rival, depending on your priorities. Make your choice by reading our Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review
How I tested the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for three weeks; listened against the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100, AirPods Pro 2, JBL Live Beam 3 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Used at work, at home and on a long weekend away (in the office, walking along Woolacombe beach, on a train)
Listened to Tidal Masters, Apple Music Lossless tracks and Spotify on an iPhone 12 Pro, a Sony Xperia 1 V and a MacBook Pro
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 became my musical companions for over three weeks – after a thorough 48-hour run-in period.
They accompanied me to work on weekdays (walking brusquely to the station; on the London Underground network; at the office), and throughout a long weekend in Woolacombe, with regular trips along the seafront after surfing – which is a great way to test any wind interference from mics during calls.
To better test the fit and security of the Pi8, I even wore them during an aerial silks training session, and they did not budge.
To check the audio quality across the frequencies, I listened to various playlists (spanning everything from grime to classical) on Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal, but also podcasts and albums on Spotify, and YouTube tutorials (mostly about checking the tire pressure on my car, and how to reset the system so the warning light goes off, in case you wondered) on my MacBook Pro.
I’ve been testing audio products well for over five years now. As a dancer, aerialist and musical theater performer in a previous life, sound quality, fit and user experience have always taken priority for me – but having heard how wonderful ANC can be when done well, I have grown to love immersing myself in a bubble of silence too.
Chinese audio company SoundMagic's bid to become a leader in the best budget headphones stakes is a strong one. The audio specialist retains a special place in cash-savvy audiophiles’ hearts, thanks to 2018’s SoundMagic E11C wired earbuds, which paved the way for a range of similarly affordable IEMs. And after launching its first wireless over-ear headphones in 2021 with the SoundMagic P23BT, it’s back with a pricier follow-up.
That’s how we come to the SoundMagic P58BT ANC, cans that are still distinctly affordable, but with a few upgrades over the past models. After testing, though, I’ve got to say that the upgrades don’t make these a better proposition.
It goes without saying that you have to set your expectations at a reasonable level when looking at affordable over-ear headphones (and I say it anyway to make it clear that I did lower my standards). And there is a lot to like here with that in mind, but I had two big issues with the SoundMagic that any potential buyer will have to get over first.
Firstly, I simply didn’t find them comfortable to wear. A relatively small arch means the pads are pushed right into your head, and I had to remove them every time I listened for more than an hour due to the headaches they caused. The P58BT ANC have a 60-hour battery life which is really great (though not best-in-class), but at my rate, that means 60 listening sessions followed by ample pauses.
The other issue, which is decidedly less subjective than the last, is that the SoundMagics don’t have any kind of smartphone app, marking the only audio gadget I can recall testing in recent years that doesn’t have any kind of way to control its features other than on the product itself.
This means you’re lacking some (arguably-) basic features that most rivals have, namely an equalizer to tweak the audio mix. I desperately wanted to fiddle with the sound of the cans, but was stuck with the default balance which emphases mids over bass or treble frequencies.
If you want to toggle the features the P58BTs do have, you have to use gesture controls over the large pad on each earpiece, or rely on button-pressing patterns for the sole physical button on the left ear cup. In my several-week-long testing period, I found myself completely incapable of memorizing all the various gestures and shortcuts for the modes that I’d usually enable on my smartphone, and I’d imagine all other users (who aren’t in MENSA) will have the same experience.
As I said, you always have to bear in mind the price with low-cost headphones like the SoundMagic P58BT ANC, and the detailed audio and valiant battery life will sway over some users, especially those who may be able to overlook my stated issues. Yes, SoundMagic puts out its headphones at a competitive price point, but there are many other rivals on the market at similar price-points that I found more impressive.
SoundMagic P58BT ANC review: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future)
Released in August 2024
Sell for $90 / £79 / AU$134
The SoundMagic P58BT ANC were announced, and put on sale, at the end of August 2024. That’s a lengthy three-year hiatus since the P23BT. They're also available in a pretty lengthy list of countries around the world on SoundMagic’s website.
At launch, the headphones cost $90 / £79 / AU$134, so they’re pretty affordable if not as bargain-bin as the $55 / £50 (roughly AU$100) P23BTs, and we'd expect a little more as a result.
I tend to wax lyrical in headphone review ‘features’ sections, for better or worse, but that won’t be the case for the SoundMagic P58BT ANC. And that's because there isn't a lot to cover.
Let’s start with the titular feature: active noise cancellation, something the P23BT didn’t offer. Here it’s present and accounted for, but nothing to write home about: solid enough to remove overbearing background noises but lacking nuance or power to compete with the greats. As an example, the headphones would cancel out the rumble of a bus I was riding, but not the low chatter of the people on said bus.
Bear in mind that these are over-ear headphones, so there's some natural noise cancellation from the natural fit of the cups, and this certainly helps the ANC.
(Image credit: Future)
The SoundMagics do compete in terms of battery life, with 60 hours of music in the tank. There are few headphones that last that long, even amongst over-ears, and it’s truly a blessing for people who habitually forget to charge (like me) or suffer from battery anxiety (also me). Some rivals beat the SoundMagic in this department, (see the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 for an excellent 100-hour option with ANC disabled – albeit a more expensive one) but many top-end cans fall far short of the figure.
And the rest of the feature set is… almost totally barren. You see, SoundMagic doesn’t have an app, so all the features you’d normally find when using one are notably absent. No equalizer, no ambient modes, no way of tracking the P58BT’s battery level if your phone UI doesn’t tell you.
There is actually a low-latency game mode, which does what it says on the tin, and solves an issue that I’ve never faced in all my years of mobile gaming. For the reasons you’ll read about in the design section, I found enabling this more faff than it was worth.
Features score: 2.5/5
SoundMagic P58BT ANC review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Comfortable and light design
A few on-cup controls
Folds up into carry case but no IP rating
The SoundMagic P58BT tip the scales to the tune of 305g, so they’re not particularly heavy, but there are certainly lighter headphones out there if you’re worried about them being too weighty.
That wouldn’t be a misplaced fear either, as I found them a little uncomfortable to wear – the silicone ear pads felt very rigid, pressing down on my ears rather than settling onto them, and I had to break up listening sessions as a result. It goes without saying that this is a subjective observation but I do have to mention it, especially given that I’d use some other headphones I’m testing as a reprieve when the SoundMagics got too painful.
They come in two color options: black or silver, and don’t seem to have a waterproofing or IP rating that’s listed on SoundMagic’s website.
You can adjust the cans to quite an extent with an adjustable-length headband and cans that can rotate and fold to quite a dramatic degree. I kept accidentally flipping the cans around 180-degrees and getting confused which side was right or left.
(Image credit: Future)
The left ear pad is the one with the features: it has a USB-C port for charging, 3.5mm jack (with an audio cable included in the box) and the power button, which needs to be held for a surprisingly long amount of time to turn the P58BT on or off.
Most of the controls, however, come with the gesture controls, and this is my biggest gripe with the SoundMagics. The flat pad on each cup can be swiped in different directions or tapped for loads of different functions: changing volume, skipping tracks and so on.
Frankly, I found the amount of different gestures I needed to memorize overwhelming, which is to say I simply couldn’t remember any of them. If I wanted to pause music or change volume I’d have to rely on my phone; ANC is toggled with the power button instead of the pads and I continually forgot about this until I’d already tried all the swipes and slaps.
There’s also the issue that some controls are directional: swipe up for one command, swipe left for another. This would seem well and good but ‘up’ and ‘left’ can be very different directions depending on the angle you’re holding your head, and I’d often accidentally enact the wrong gesture due to leaning my head too far backward or forward, or at certain angles.
This gesture control was in place in the SoundMagic P23BT and our reviewer didn’t mind it there, but those headphones didn’t have those (few) extra features over the previous pair that need to be controlled with gestures too.
Design score: 3/5
SoundMagic P58BT ANC review: Sound quality
(Image credit: Future)
Well-balanced audio
Mids bloated just a little
Max volume is really, really loud
Tech-wise, the SoundMagic P58BT ANC packs 40mm drivers with support for SBC and AAC. Those are largely in line with other headphones you’ll be considering at this price.
People who’ve used other budget headphones might find the SoundMagic pretty good – music has a lot of detail and clarity, with a broader soundstage than some other similarly-priced gadgets I’ve tested and a commendable lack of peaking at reasonable volumes.
However, at least personally speaking, I wasn’t a fan of the balance of the headphones. The detail of bass and treble is provided at the expense of their energy or power – mid sounds dominate the mix and on certain genres of music, this saps some of the ‘pizazz’.
(Image credit: Future)
I particularly think that bass-heads will be disappointed as lower-frequency sounds lack power, as though you’re watching a bassist play their instrument when it isn’t plugged in. The genres I enjoyed best with these headphones were acoustic-laden folk, singer-songwriter and bluegrass songs, where thumping bass rhythms aren't as important.
I did enjoy listening to the spoken word on the headphones though, as I found the detail provided by them helped convey small nuances in tone and pitch. Podcast-listeners might find these a decent pick.
Bear in mind that the lack of an equalizer means you’re reliant on the default sound of the P58BT ANC – no bass boosting or rock modes here. Because of this, more so than on other headphones, I'd really recommend trying to source a pair to test before you buy them.
Sound quality: 3.5/5
SoundMagic P58BT ANC review: value
(Image credit: Future)
It’s hard to make a firebrand statement about the cost-value proposition of the SoundMagic P58BT ANC because you’re basically getting what you pay for here.
In terms of audio quality and design, the headphones tick the boxes you’d expect from them, and you see in similarly-priced rivals.
Dragging the value down a little is the lack of an app, which gives the impression of these being some cheap AliExpress buys, even though SoundMagic is a reputed brand. However I do think the soft carry bag for the phones does tip the scale in the right direction a little.
Value: 3.5/5
Should I buy the SoundMagic P58BT ANC?
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
SoundMagic P58BT ANC review: Also consider
How I tested the SoundMagic P58BT ANC
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for two weeks
Tested at home, in the office, on public transport and on walks
The testing process for the SoundMagic P58BT ANC took place over two weeks, which includes the set-up, review writing and general usage time. This is the usual amount of time I allocate to headphone reviews.
For most of the testing, I used the headphones connected to my Android phone via Bluetooth, but I also connected them to my phone and laptop using the audio cable for some testing too. I mainly tested using Spotify and several streaming services, with some gaming done to test out that mode. Lots of the testing was done in my office, and on various walks, bus rides and train journeys to and from it, but I also used them at home and in other everyday environments.
My history of review-writing at TechRadar spans over five years, and I've been covering tech for even longer. I've tested loads of similarly-priced headphones (including one mentioned in the 'also consider' section), as well as a range of other gadgets.
I mentioned earlier that I used the SoundMagic alongside another pair of headphones; this was a pricier model and it wouldn't be fair to compare them.
Earlier this year, the OnePlus Buds 3 made their debut with an updated design language and a more balanced sound than anything we'd heard from the company to date. Now, with the arrival of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, that same approach has been kicked into overdrive; resulting in OnePlus' best noise-cancelling earbuds yet, and by quite a stretch.
Although on paper, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 sport a similar spec sheet to their predecessors, the company has enhanced things at a component level; meaning the familiar dual driver design is now also backed by dual DACs in each earbud, plus a few other hardware tweaks. Pair that with revised tuning from Dynaudio and, while the Buds Pro 3 retain their forebears penchant for bass, there's far more dynamism in that lower frequency range, joined by more balanced mids and crisp highs; right through the volume range.
The Pro 3 are also brimming with features and most of them aren't solely tied to OnePlus devices anymore. You now get decent spatial audio support (with head tracking) that works on a far greater range of Android devices than before (as well as non-Android iPhones). Seamless dual device switching, a low latency game mode and five excellent EQ presets, along with a frankly outlandish bass boost feature and the ability to tune your own profiles too.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Any downsides? One. As much as the sonic profile has come on – enough to make these true rivals for notable buds from audio-first brands such as Bose and Technics – and despite packing what OnePlus bills as its best noise cancelling yet, ANC (active noise cancellation) is good but not class-leading. Microphone performance is fine too, with acceptable background noise suppression, but the transparency mode does little to differentiate itself from being switched off entirely.
You'll also have to reconcile yourself to the absence of features from similarly-priced rivals, namely conversation-awareness and voice command support. Are these deal-breakers? (I'd suggest they're not, but it's worth noting that they're not here.)
Speaking of deals, despite all the advantages and upgrades over its last few buds, OnePlus hasn't upped the price of the Buds Pro 3 in most markets, including the US, where they cost $179 (with an early bird reduction at the time of writing, to $149). UK buyers will have to swallow a £20 price bump versus the Buds Pro 2, but they too can be had with an early bird offer that knocks them back down to £179. Not bad, eh?
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Launched on August 20, 2024
Priced at $179.99 / £199 / Australian pricing TBC
Early bird pricing includes a $20 / £20 discount
The standard OnePlus Buds 3 arrived on the market in February 2024 and six months later (in which time they leaked extensively), the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 launched, on August 20, 2024.
In most markets, OnePlus has set the Buds Pro 3 at the same asking price as the previous OnePlus Buds Pro 2: $179.99 in the US, €179 in Europe and ₹13,999 in India. The exception to that is the UK, where the Buds Pro 3 see a £20 increase to £199, which reframes their standing in the market as a slightly more premium offering, comparatively.
The silver lining is that, at the time of writing, OnePlus is still offering the Buds Pro 3 up with an early bird discount; a $20 reduction to $149.99 Stateside; making them something of a steal, considering the sound quality on offer. That same reduction also carries over to the UK too, so the price drops back down to its predecessor's RRP of £179, for the time being.
Australian pricing and availability hasn't yet been revealed, but as the Buds Pro 3 are already listed on OnePlus' regional website, the implication is that they'll be on sale sometime soon.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: Specs
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: Features
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Check out 'neck vertebrae health' tool
Broader compatibility than predecessor
No voice command or conversation awareness
Pairing the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is as easy as opening up the case near a Google Fast Pair-compatible Android phone. So long as Bluetooth is turned on, all you have to do is choose to connect via the card that pops up on-screen, and that's it. iPhones unsurprisingly don't feature Google Fast Pair but connection is still painless, with a long-press on the pairing button on the side of the case, after which you just have to select the buds from the Bluetooth menu, like usual.
If you're rocking any of the best OnePlus phones, unlocking the full feature set of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is as easy as pairing; with access to everything direct from the Bluetooth devices menu. For any other Android phone or iPhone, control falls to the HeyMelody app (which serves up an identical UI).
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
From top to bottom, you're presented with a battery readout, Noise Control (which lets you toggle on ANC, Transparency or turn off both). There's then a noise cancellation sub-menu, where you can select the degree of background noise suppression; that includes three levels, as well as a dynamic 'auto' mode.
The Sound Master EQ sub-menu plays home to the hard work the Danish engineers at Dynaudio contributed to the Buds Pro 3, with five presets (Balanced, Bold, Serenade, Bass and Dynaudio featured), along with an additional BassWave toggle that can be paired with any of the EQ profiles and itself includes a -/+ 5 slider. Rounding out this menu is where you can build your own custom EQ profiles, split into six frequency sliders.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Hi-Res mode is next, with the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 opting for LHDC 5.0 as its codec of choice here (alongside SBC and AAC). As for devices that support it, in the smartphone space recent OnePlus, Oppo & Realme phones, as well as the top entries amongst the best Xiaomi phones, and Nothing Phone 1 and 2, are all confirmed to support LHDC 5.0, but there are other offerings from brands like Motorola that play nice with older iterations of the codec too.
I preferred the default 'Balanced' EQ profile, with BassWave disabled for general listening, but collectively augmented that configuration with the Golden Sound feature. It takes you through a frequency test for each bud, before building an audio profile unique to your ears; a feature I'd highly recommend you spend the time to set up to get the most out of the listening experience here.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Next-up is spatial audio, which was available on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 but only worked with flagship OnePlus phones at launch. Now, support is hugely expanded, available across popular music and streaming apps on all sorts of Android phones, and even iPhones (although iOS isn't using Google's Spatial Audio profile). Optional head tracking is on the table too, which works well in practice.
There are three Buds Pro 3 features exclusively available to OnePlus smartphone/tablet users, but in the grand scheme of things, don't feel like damaging omissions if you're on another platform.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The most interesting is the 'neck vertebrae health' tool, which can use the sensors in the buds to assess your neck mobility and even notify you of bad neck posture while you're wearing them. Zen Mode Air serves up relaxing white noise sounds (like 'Summer Waves' or 'Forest Rain' in wonderful high fidelity. Lastly, the Buds Pro 3 supports camera control on OnePlus devices, letting you snap a picture with their on-stem controls, or supply your videos with the microphone feed from the buds, if desired.
Game Mode reduces latency between the buds and your device, turning on automatically on OnePlus devices when they detect you're running a game, while it appears as a toggle in the HeyMelody app for other Android and iOS users.
Multipoint connectivity (branded 'Dual connection' here) is a great inclusion on the Buds Pro 3 that, once setup, lets you seamlessly pause audio on one device and move to another without needing to re-pair to keep listening. This works without issue in practice, tested across OnePlus, Android and iOS devices.
The soundscapes available in Zen Mode Air (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The last two features at the OnePlus Buds Pro 3's disposal are a fit test – to ensure you have a good seal when wearing them, and a Find My option, which emits a loud tone from the buds when activated, and on Android devices also plugs into Google's Find My Device system; noting the last location they were used.
In short, an absolute mountain of functionality that makes the Buds Pro 3 incredibly versatile for a variety of listening conditions. All that's missing is conversation-aware ANC (which quietens or pauses music when the buds detect someone speaking to you or vice versa) and voice commands; for hands-free playback control or interaction with your device's smart assistant.
Features score: 4.5 / 5
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: Design
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Stemmed buds w/ chromed outer face
New top-loading case is better, but wireless charging is backwards
IP55 rated buds, IPX4 case
OnePlus' Buds Pro line has always sported a stem-style design, originally accented with a chrome-dipped tip aesthetic, while the driver housing has typically been finished in lightly textured plastic. With the Buds Pro 3, however, that chrome finish has crept up to cover the stem and housing completely, which I think is a shame.
While eye-catching, the 'dipped' look of previous entries made for a more distinctive appearance, even at a distance. Many levied criticism at Samsung for the design similarities of its new angular stemmed Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, but the more rounded stems and, now consistent, surface finish of OnePlus' latest buds renders them far more like chrome-clad AirPods Pro 2 doppelgangers, in my opinion.
Look closely and you can see the touch sensitive area on the inside of the stem (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
That said, while the finish more readily holds onto fingerprints than previous iterations, ergonomically, it sits far more comfortably in the ear than any true wireless buds I've worn of late, and that's with the pre-fitted medium silicone ear tips. OnePlus also includes extra small, small and large-size oval-shaped alternatives in the box (along with a charging cable).
Despite the fact that they've gained a little weight, I found the Buds Pro 3 to be more comfortable and secure when worn (over the older Buds Pro 2), even when working out or for extended periods. In-ear detection proved reliable too, pausing and resuming music when you remove or insert either bud, and it works on iOS as well as Android.
The Buds Pro 3 boasts a completely redesigned case that has caused some discord among fans on platforms like Reddit. In place of the squared makeup compact-style case of previous generations – which opened to reveal the buds in their entirety – the Pro 3's buds reside within a new top-loading oval enclosure, that features smooth edges, contrasted against a leather-like textured surface finish.
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(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
I think the new case makes the Pro 3 more pocketable and more likely to retain the buds inside, should you drop it, but some people don't seem to appreciate the change. The USB-C port on the case's underside allows for a quick 10-minute charge to deliver 13 hours of playback (for comparison AirPods Pro 2 deliver just 1 hour of playback from a 5-minute recharge), while a full 100% refill takes approximately 70 minutes.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 also, conveniently, include wireless charging too (a full recharge this way takes about 2.5 hours), but for some unknown reason, unlike every other pair of wireless charging-capable buds out there, OnePlus' new case design demands that you place it face down, instead of face up when recharging without cables. It's an unintuitive design move that just takes some getting used to. At least with up to 43 hours of use per charge, you won't have to worry about fiddling with the case on a wireless charger all too often.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Along with the existing repertoire of stem-based press or press-and-hold controls that previous Buds Pro have sported, the Buds Pro 3 carry across the new swipe gesture added to the OnePlus Buds 3; letting you adjust volume (or switch track) on-ear, by swiping up or down on the front of the stem. Even now, I still sometimes struggle to find the touch-sensitive area consistently, but controls otherwise work reliably.
For added peace of mind, the case is IPX4-rated, while the buds themselves are IP55-rated against dust and water ingress; collectively meaning you should have no issues wearing these when working up a sweat or getting caught in the rain.
Design score: 4 / 5
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: Sound quality
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Excellent, well-balanced sound profile
Huge upgrade on predecessor that's comparable to pricier rivals
Still behind the curve on mic voice isolation and ANC
Perhaps the most divisive aspect of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is the audio performance. In a nutshell, this product outputs exceptional sound, with a great default profile, outlandishly lavish bass (without making things muddy), and significantly-improved response in the mids and highs (compared to the Buds Pro 2), that punches above its weight.
The flip side is that, despite the promise of strides made in ANC, microphone performance and transparency mode, the improvements feel significantly more pedestrian.
If you didn't tell me the buds' noise cancellation was dynamic, I wouldn't readily know. ANC performance is good at slightly softening mids, while also trimming low drones and high hisses, but speech and the like still slip through, as do sudden changes in volume in your surroundings. Of course, that's to be expected to a degree, but still, the performance here when massaging away constant, low-level sounds was fine rather than fantastic.
On calls and when recording your voice, the Buds Pro 3 boast a three-microphone setup, supported by a VPU (voice pick up bone) sensor, however, the results are again just 'fine'. They're more full-bodied than the mics on some other buds around this price point, but plosives in speech tend to get lost when the Buds Pro 3 are trying to iron out background noise at the same time.
While I already touched on a lack of awareness to Transparency mode, any benefit over just disabling it altogether went as far as adding more high frequency sounds back into the buds' passive isolation.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Microphone-bashing out of the way, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3's excellent sound improvements likely come as a result of the move to dual DACs per driver, per bud; one for the 11mm woofer and one for the 6mm tweeter. Dual DACs, two magnets and a fancy new ceramic-metal composite diaphragm on the woofer, alongside a "small but mighty" 35-micrometer flat voice coil for the high frequencies (likely the biggest contributor the this generation's more balanced sound profile) collectively elevate the standard of OnePlus' audio quality to new heights.
The result is a cleaner, more dynamic sound, with great separation, less crowding in the lower frequencies and more definition in the mids and highs.
Sound quality score: 4 / 5
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: Value
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Superb sound for the price
You'll need to pay more for buds with superior ANC
Discounts bring strong rivals down to a similar price point
If you spend the majority of your time listening on your headphones, rather than talking, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 impress with just how much they improve over the Buds Pro 2, while also serving up excellent sound outright, that belies their $179 / £199 asking price.
With the transitional pricing space they reside in, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 serve as worthwhile alternatives to the likes of more established premium entries, like the Sony WF-1000XM5 (originally $300 / £260 but available today in the UK, at least, for as low as £190) or Technics EAH-AZ80 (available today for around $300 / £240), as well as more budget focused options, like the Bose-certified Moto Buds Plus (approximately $150 / £130).
Headphones today aren't just about listening, however, and so even with their comparatively paltry battery life, if microphone quality, ANC and Transparency mode are major factors for you, you'll likely want to cough up a little extra and go for a known quantity, like Apple's AirPods Pro 2 ($250 / £230) or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 (about $180 / £250 today).
Value score: 4 / 5
Should I buy the OnePlus Buds Pro 3?
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review: Also consider
How I tested the OnePlus Buds Pro 3
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Review test period: 1.5 weeks
Testing included streaming from different audio sources, including spatial audio supported videos
Switched between OnePlus, (other) Android, iPhone and PC devices
I used the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 every day for the duration of the review period, giving them an initial 10-hour burn-in before assessing sound characteristics.
I paired the Buds Pro 3 with all manner of devices, from Android phones made by OnePlus and other manufacturers, as well as iPhones and a Windows laptop. This was partially to test the likes of multipoint, as well as checking which feature, if any, were exclusive to certain device types or operating systems.
I used every feature that the Pro 3's software experience had to offer and tried the buds themselves in all manner of environments, with varying degrees of ambient noise to test features like ANC and microphone quality against.
As a reviewer with 13 years experience, and having reviewed numerous audio products – from Bluetooth speakers to a myriad of true wireless buds at a full range of price points – I felt confident assessing and scoring the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in the context of the wider TWS earphones market in which it competes.
Sony is one of the biggest players in the audio market but its focus has always seemed to lean towards the elite, top-quality premium earbuds or over-ears market. The Japanese tech giant doesn’t need to break a sweat to keep on top of the best budget earbuds market though, if the new Sony WF-C510 are anything to go by.
The company’s follow-up to 2021’s Sony WF-C500, and a newer and more affordable alterative to the top-rated WF-C700N, these new earbuds come at a time when there’s more and more competition at the low-end of the market. I’d name some competitors but I don’t really need to – not when Sony’s offerings are this good.
In fact, I think the WF-C510 could draw some fans away from the top-end Sony WF-1000XM5 and the new sans-ANC entry-level AirPods 4. Who needs to pay double, triple or even quadruple the price when cheap and cheery gets you this far?
I really liked the sound of the new Sonys; I prefer sound that prioritizes clean treble over thumping bass, and so the Sony WF-C510 tick all my boxes and then some. Home-brewed Sony algorithms and a reasonably responsive equalizer just add to my enjoyment of the audio.
The design is stellar too – the buds stuck in my ears like the Abba songs they played stayed stuck in my head. Thanks to the nice grippy material used for the tips, and each earpiece weighing less than 5g, never once did a bud fall from my ears. I even cycled confidently with them and completed a full workout at the gym without gravity doing its thing to them.
This lightweight design extends to the case too, which is tiny and can easily disappear into a pocket. Unfortunately this does contribute to one of my gripes: the case only offers 11 hours of extra listening time, which is much less than basically any rival on the market.
(Image credit: Future)
That’s extra listening time over what the buds offer by default, but contrarily you can go 11 hours with these without needing to return them to the case. This is a fantastic amount of listening time, and the WF-C510 would be my first port of call over pricier rivals for long trips.
Part of the reason for this long battery life is that the Sonys don’t have ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), which is something I can’t knock the buds for as it’s a feature that’s never guaranteed at this price. Instead, they have an ambient mode which is pretty commonplace in wireless earbuds, but it’s only useful in certain situations so I didn’t use it much.
Noise cancellation isn’t the only feature that the WF-C510s lack: wear detection, low-latency mode, 'find my' locaters and a few other more premium perks don’t rear their heads here. Again, the price justifies this, but it’s something I’d be remiss not to flag – if you’ve got a certain mode or feature you love to use, you’d better check that the Sonys offer it.
Given that this is a two-minute review, I probably don’t have time to go into lots of detail about the other great parts of the Sony WF-C510, but between the responsive and easy-to-use touch buttons, the useful eartip fit test, the range of color options and the audio avoiding all the pitfalls I usually see in budget earbuds, I feel comfortable recommending these over some of the much pricier competitors I’ve tested this year.
Sony WF-C510 review: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future)
Released in September 2024
Cost $59.99 / £54.99 / AU$109
The Sony WF-C510 were released in September 2024 as the new entries in Sony’s WF-C line of low-cost earbuds.
You can pick them up for $59.99 / £54.99 / AU$109, and at that price point they’re in contention with our list of the best cheap earbuds. In fact, as of their launch, they’re Sony’s cheapest true wireless earbuds, drastically undercutting the $119 / £89 / AU$199 WF-C700N (which we gave five stars to in our review). The WF-C500 aren’t officially ranged by Sony any more, but they launched for $99 / £89 / AU$149 three years ago, and have seen price cuts from third-party retailers since.
The cheap earbuds market is a competitive one, with fresh competitors hitting the market all the time; in the months before this Sony proposition I've also tested the likes of the Earfun Air Pro 4 and CMF Buds Pro 2 for the same price. And the WF-C510 is my pick of the bunch.
Sony WF-C510 review: Specs
Sony WF-C510 review: Features
(Image credit: Future)
In-bud battery life is great –but the case less so
No ANC, but there is 'sound control'
Headphones app brings some extra features
Something I both love and hate about the Sony WF-C510 is the battery life.
The buds themselves have a fantastic battery life: 8 hours with sound control on, and 11 hours with it off, makes these Sonys some of the longest-lasting earbuds I’ve tested recently. However, the case itself only offers one extra charge-up, while basically all others on the market give you at least two extra charges. As a result, these buds gave me more battery anxiety on trips than most others I’ve tested.
That 11-hour figure is Sony's. In my testing, with sound control turned off, the right bud lasted for 10 hours and 42 minutes, while the left one was still somehow blasting out music 40 minutes later when my phone ran out of charge. Gaping inconsistency aside, that averages over 11 hours, so I'll concur with Sony's estimate.
Audio fans might be wondering why I’ve referred to ‘sound control’ and not active noise cancellation – this is because the Sonys don’t have ANC, but do offer noise cancellation in the form of an ‘Ambient Sound Control’ mode. This amplifies sounds around you, so you can be aware of what’s going on regardless of how much noise would otherwise be drowned out by your music. It’s a fine mode, with results that are more subtle and nuanced than the similar equivalent that many rival earbuds have, but ambient modes are generally quite situational so I didn’t find myself using it a whole lot.
Of course, ambient noise control isn’t the same as noise cancellation – it’s ANC you may want at home – but the passive noise cancellation offered by the ear-tips was enough to make me happy.
For the rest of the feature set we’re going to have to boot up Sony’s Headphones app, which, while a great addition at this level, has a logo so generic that I kept losing it on my phone’s menu.
(Image credit: Future)
Using said Headphones app, you can see the battery life of the earbuds, arrange which devices they’re connected to (up to two – yes, there's multi-point), toggle ambient mode off or on to a variety of intensities, play with an equalizer (including a test to find the best preset for you, and another to detect which eartips are best for you), set up 360 Reality Audio (Sony’s version of spatial audio), change what the buttons do, and enable Spotify Tap which basically makes Spotify play by default.
The equalizer gives you quite a few presets, with the ability to modify them too, and lots of the rest is par for the course. However, I found the EQ test quite confusing – unlike Nothing Ear’s fantastic automatic detection test, you basically have to ‘blind test’ some presets to see which you prefer. I found the difference between many of them inaudible, and sometimes I liked two equally. Ultimately, the mode is fine for people who know the sound they want (or the parts of recordings they usually augment), but for everyone else it’s perhaps not worth bothering with, although it does add value at this level.
Beyond ANC, there are a few features not present in the WF-C510 that some might miss, although I can’t hold these cheap buds to blame given the price. The major one is wear detection, so you have to pause music manually when you remove the buds. There’s also no low-latency mode which is quite common even amongst cheap buds, or any kind of ‘find my buds’ feature.
Another thing I should note, which is a problem I’ve had with other Sony audio products too, is that by default the volume sounds incredibly low – even when it shouldn’t. It’s because there’s a volume slider in the app, separate to your phone’s one, which I’d recommend you immediately raise to near-full intensity and rely on your phone’s volume rocker for control. The first time I used Sony headphones I thought they were incredibly quiet until I noticed this feature – what I should also note is that the in-app volume resets to 50% if you pair the earphones to a different device and then back to your phone, so you’ll need to rectify it manually. This is an irksome feature for people who are unaware, but even for those of us who’ve been using them for years, it’s an unnecessary extra step that most other earbuds don’t require.
Features score: 3.5/5
Sony WF-C510 review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Incredibly lightweight case
Buds fit nice and snug –and don't budge
Convenient-to-use physical button
The Sony WF-C510 charging case is lovely and svelte – it’s one of my favorite cases for slipping into my pocket or bag.
A lozenge-shaped slither of plastic, it measures about 6.8 x 2.7 x 3.1 cm (all my measurements – I couldn’t find any on the Sony website) and weighs “approx” 31g (that’s Sony’s exact wording). Vague measurements aside, it’s really slender, with basically enough space for the buds and not much excess (which is probably why it doesn’t provide much charge!). Main points to note here are the USB-C port for charging, a small button for pairing and an LED status indicator. All par for the course, really.
I liked the textured plastic case, but I can see some finding it a bit cheap-feeling, and it does creak a little if you put pressure on it. That’s the trade-off with its light build.
The buds are equally light, weighing 4.6g each. At least Sony has an exact measurement for that! They’re in-ear buds so this particular figure is really important, as heavy in-ear buds (or those that aren't shaped carefully to distribute said weight) sometimes have trouble staying in the ear.
(Image credit: Future)
No issue for the Sonys though: they always felt rigid in my testing, never once falling out or even feeling loose. The box includes larger and smaller alternatives, with the app having an ear fit test, if the default tips don’t fit.
The fact that they fit and stay securely in my ears sounds simple enough, but so many competing options at double the price can't seem to do it. If you want cheap earbuds that don't budge and sound good, the Sony WF-C510 are it.
There are a few color options for the aspiring fashionistas out there: black and white are pretty standard, but there’s also light blue and light yellow. The latter hue is modelled by me in the pictures.
One feature of note on the WF-C510s is a button on each bud – it’s quite big, and takes up most of the body of each. It’s a physical button, meaning you have to actually depress it to trigger it, but I found it sensitive enough that it was easy to use. The size also ensures that you don’t have to keep jabbing at the bud, and shoving it into your ear, to trigger the function (which is customizable in the app).
In terms of waterproofing, the buds are IPX4 resistant to water, which means they’ll survive splashes from any angle, but not jets. That’s what the rating stands for but in real life the difference between ‘splashes’ and ‘jets’ isn’t always apparent so I’d recommend doing your best to keep these away from anything wetter than rain or sweat.
Design score: 4.5/5
Sony WF-C510 review: Sound quality
(Image credit: Future)
Bright sound; some might miss bass
High-quality given price
DSEE improves compressed music
I really like the sound of the Sony WF-C510s – obviously you have to set your expectations to a certain level with low-cost earbuds, but I found the audio high-quality and also certainly distinct in that Sony, "have this sound, and have it good and clear" way.
This is possibly thanks, at least in part, to Sony’s DSEE, which stands for digital sound enhancement engine – basically it’s tech that restores the range of the compressed audio tracks you’re playing from your chosen streaming service. It gives Sony earbuds, including the WF-C510, an edge over similar alternatives, as long as you remember to turn it on via the app.
The driver itself is a 6mm unit, so not necessarily as big as some similar-priced alternatives, but bigger than the more expensive WF-C700N.
The Sony WF-C510s have a slightly forward sound profile (and I say this as a compliment rather than a shortfall), offering clear and pronounced treble sounds like your guitars, vocals and piano parts. This is great for some genres of music, and I enjoyed listening to songs with prominent and distinct vocal lines that were beamed into my ears.
The flip side is that you can’t feel the bass quite as much in certain genres of music, which might be an issue for people who like their bass thumping to their back teeth. You can rectify it to a degree using the in-app equalizer, but not quite enough to please bass-heads.
I was surprised by the lack of peaking or distortion at normal listening volumes, and I had to really push the buds to a painfully-loud volume to hear any crackling, muddying or artefacts.
Sound quality: 4.5/5
Sony WF-C510 review: Value
(Image credit: Future)
Look at the price
Seriously, look at it
I’d consider the Sony WF-C510 great value for money even if the audio was only ‘fine’. It’s not, though, and fans of Sony's typical sound profile (that's most of us) will really love what they’re getting here.
If you’re being offered the Sonys as a gift or bundled with another Sony product, you might think you’re just getting some cheap buds thrown in to sweeten the deal, but trust me when I say these are better than their lowly price suggests.
Value: 5/5
Should I buy the Sony WF-C510?
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
Sony WF-C510 review: Also consider
How I tested the Sony WF-C510
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for two weeks
Tested at home, in the office and on trips
The Sony WF-C510 enjoyed two weeks of listening time for this review, and as mentioned earlier I've tested a string of their closest rivals recently, which helped with the comparisons.
I tested the buds while they were paired to my Android smartphone, and I connected them to a different mobile to test multi-point pairing. Mostly I listened to music with Spotify but to fully test the buds I also tried other apps including games and streaming services. Testing was done at home, in the office and on various trips around my city, including walks in the park and gym excursions.
I've been testing gadgets at TechRadar for over five years now, and in that time have used plenty of budget earbuds and other Sony products. Outside of reviewing headphones, my trusty Sony WH-1000XM3 are my go-to headphones so I'm well versed in Sony's audio products and software.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation: Two-Minute Review
When they're in the ear, at first glance the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation might not look much different to the third-generation AirPods. However, the design has been streamlined for a better fit, while the internal hardware has been upgraded, with many of the best features of AirPods Pro 2 trickling down to Apple's new entry-level earbuds, making them a tempting option among the best AirPods.
For one, both styles of AirPods 4 – these and the standard version, which don’t offer noise cancellation – are powered by the Apple-made H2 chip that stretches the battery life, delivers excellent audio playback, and provides enough horsepower for Apple to offer Adaptive Audio on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
While it doesn't entirely block out the world around you in the way that the best noise cancelling earbuds do – remember these are open-ear earbuds – when paired with music, it can reduce loud rumbles, like a jet engine, down to a drastically reduced sound.
I think folks who desire the ability to block out the world around them without fully sealing off the ear will find a nice middle ground here. The Transparency mode, as well as how these pick up the user's voice, is very well done and sounds incredibly natural.
You'll also be able to answer or decline calls with a shake of your head and press the stems for easy control, other than for adjusting the volume. Sadly, the ability to swipe to change the volume didn't trickle down from AirPods Pro 2. However, excellent audio quality with a wide soundstage did, and that's paired with support for Personalized Spatial Audio.
Overall, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation make a bit more sense over the entry-level for the price and provide some future-proofing, but they also make an impact as powerful open-ear earbuds.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review: Pricing and Availability
The Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are priced at $179 / £179 / AU$299. They're available from September 20th, 2024, though are available to order already.
The $129 / £129 / AU$219 entry-level AirPods 4 do not offer noise cancellation, or, as their pricier siblings do, a Find My-enabled case and a couple of other features, but they still offer excellent audio quality and spatial audio support.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review: Specs
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review: Features
(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
Much like the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, AirPods Max, or even the third-generation model that they replace, the AirPods 4 – with or without active noise cancellation – offer several useful features, which make them an excellent choice for anyone with an iPhone, or who’s otherwise invested in Apple’s device ecosystem.
After unboxing, you need to flip the lid open and hold the AirPods 4 near your iPhone to start the pairing process. You’ll see a prompt appear on the bottom half of your screen and can click ‘Connect’ to pair the AirPods 4 with your iPhone and your iCloud account for easy syncing between devices. I found that this process took just a few seconds to complete.
Fast-pairing and quick switching between devices have long been staples of AirPods, with the former dating back to the first generation, and they perform well here. Right after pairing, I was able to begin listening on my iPhone, and I could quickly switch to listening to audio on a 14-inch MacBook Pro or an iPad. Apple’s various platforms will even automatically switch your AirPods between devices based on what you’re actively using or playing audio on,, but I found this to be a little less helpful.
One very helpful feature here, though, is the arrival of gesture controls. First announced as an upgrade for the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation at Apple’s WWDC in June, these head gestures launch on day one with AirPods 4, allowing you to easily answer or dismiss a call with a simple head shake. Just in my few days of using the AirPods 4 this has come in handy several times, especially when my hands are full or I’m walking around town. It works for phone calls, FaceTime, and other calling apps that use Apple’s APIs.
(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
Aside from nodding your head or saying “yes” or “no”, you can also press the stems, or press and hold, to trigger a few actions. A single press lets you play or pause, while a long press lets you select listening modes. While these open-ear earbuds won’t fully isolate you from your surroundings, the AirPods 4 offer active noise cancellation, transparency, and Adaptive Audio (blending those two) modes. You cannot, however, swipe or down on the stem to adjust the volume – the ability to do this on the AirPods Pro is super-handy, but seemingly, Apple wants to keep that feature for its flagship earbuds.
Apple’s H2 chip – the same chip found in AirPods Pro – powers all of these features, as well as the microphones, custom algorithms, and sensors. As I wrote in my hands-on review, after I tried the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation right after the launch event to quiet down a noisy space, they offer seriously impressive noise cancellation for open-ear earbuds or buds that don’t fully seal off the ear. In that space, with ANC engaged, the sound of the crowded space was muffled, and when music playback began, it was mostly quieted down.
On an airplane, it was much the same experience – you can get some peace and quiet with them, but they won't fully drown out the environmental noise as the AirPods Pro can. Part of this might be due to the fact that your body is feeling vibrations and wants to match them with sound, but I think another factor is that without the full seal and as you move your head, ambient sound has more opportunity to enter your ear. The result is that AirPods 4 block out most sound, but on an airplane – or a train – you’ll still hear the engine roar and even some cabin noise. Still, though, these effectively block out a lot of noise.
I’ve long thought that the AirPods Pro offered the best transparency mode, in which they intelligently let environmental sounds in and lower the decibels so as not to harm your ears. I think the AirPods 4 outpace those, though – with transparency mode enabled here, any sense of roboticness or noise being piped in is pretty much removed; with Conversation Awareness turned on, you can also effectively have conversations with folks quite naturally, at times even forgetting these are in your ears. Your own voice, or in this case my voice, sounds a bit more natural and less processed as well.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review: Design
(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation don’t stray too far from the working formula of Apple’s other true-wireless earbuds. They opt for short stems like the AirPods Pro or the AirPods 3rd Generation that these directly replace. The curved portion of hard plastic that sits in your ear has been slightly redesigned and is now more curved, to provide a better fit in the ear.
I found the AirPods 4 to be pretty cozy in my ears. I comfortably wore them for over four and a half hours while on a flight and for countless hours with intermittent usage while working. They still just kind of plop in your ear and rest there. I didn’t have them fall out on any occasion, whether on a turbulent flight, while working out, or while walking indoors and outside in a bustling city.
(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
The case is downright tiny given the smaller footprint that the left and right AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation take up. It’s much smaller than the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation case, and even the case for the cheaper AirPods 4, and is shorter than the AirPods 2nd Generation’s case. You still flip it open to take out or put back your AirPods 4, and there’s a multi-purpose indicator light on the front.
There’s no back button on the back case for easy pairing, though. Instead, you’ll double-press the back to trigger pairing for other devices, including non-Apple ones. It’s an easter egg that Apple needs to publicize a bit more.
To charge the AirPods 4, you can plug them in via USB-C, though there’s no longer a charger in the box. If you get the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, you can also place them on any Qi-wireless charger or Apple Watch charging puck.
In my testing, I found that with active noise cancellation, transparent, or Adaptive Audio enabled, you’ll get around four hours and 15 to 20 minutes of usage. That’s beyond Apple’s promised four hours of playback with a listening mode enabled. With no mode on, you can get about five to five-and-a-half hours of playback, depending on the volume you’re listening at. A quick five minutes of charging in the case also provides at least an hour of listening.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review: Sound Quality
(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
To sum up, the AirPods 4 essentially sound as good as AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, and, as with their predecessors, that’s without the buds providing a true seal of the ear. There’s a clear and rich audio mix with a fairly wide sound stage, but the real chef’s kiss here would be the Spatial Audio support.
Powering the audio experience is Adaptive EQ via the H2 chip, and pushing out sound is a custom high-excursion drive and a high-dynamic range amplifier. It’s also worth noting that there’s a single H2 chip in each bud, with audio sent over Bluetooth 5.3 from the connected device.
This all comes together to give you a balanced representation of the track you’re listening to, but if you’re listening to something that bops with more oomph the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation won’t shy away from raising the lower-end or really offering a surprising amount of bass for earbuds of this size. For instance, with Burnin’ Train by Bruce Springsteen, the track starts off with a rising guitar riff that’s quickly joined by drums, piano, and vocals all across the sound spectrum – it sounds sonically here and in lossless via Apple Music I didn’t notice any distortion or dropouts.
With a pop/EDM track like Apple by Charli XCX, you can see how the AirPods 4 handle layering of sound, with a surprisingly sharp bass track that doesn’t distort with the singer’s vocals on top at higher frequencies, with various electrical beats in between. The AirPods 4 tend to handle almost all genres well, and even without a full seal, deliver a great balanced mix, although at higher volumes you will have some sound leakage.
Spatial Audio here essentially gets rid of stereo’s left and right channels, with various elements of a track flowing around you. It’s a more immersive listening experience, and Apple’s implementation here is excellent. I particularly like spinning it with a live track, but I think the album version of Down On The Corner by Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of the best examples. Not to mention, it also works with some movies and TV shows to put you right in the middle of the action.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review: Value
(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
At $179 / £169 / AU$279 with active noise cancellation or $129 without, AirPods 4 offers a variety of features previously found only on Apple’s most high-end earbuds. The new design language streamlines the AirPods' appearance, as they all look similar.
If you’re sold on open-ear earbuds or ones that lack silicone tips, AirPods 4 are likely your best bet if you want to be within Apple’s ecosystem. The higher price might only be $70 away from AirPods Pro, but you still get a lot of value for the price: three listening modes, a comfortable open-ear design that doesn’t fall out, solid battery life, and a findable case should they go missing.
The $129 / £129 edition of AirPods 4 will lose the listening modes and the Find My enabled case, but it still offers a rich, crisp audio experience, all of the handy Apple ecosystem features, and support for Spatial Audio.
Should I Buy Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation?
Buy them if...
If you want an open-ear fit that works in the Apple ecosystem
Replacing AirPods 2nd and 3rd gen, AirPods 4 are the new open-ear, non-ear sealing earbuds that work extremely well with the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.
Don't buy them if...
If you want the best noise cancellation in an earbud
Considering AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation don't seal off your ear with a silicone ear-tip, these earbuds won't block out all environmental sound. So if you're looking for that consider another pair like AirPods Pro 2nd Gen or one of the best wireless earbuds from elsewhere.
How I tested Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
For the past several days, I've been living with and using Apple's AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Mini, iPad Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple TV 4K.
I tested audio playback, standard, and Spatial Audio tracks in various locations to gauge and track performance and see if there was sound leakage since these are open-ear earbuds. I threw various tracks across genres at AirPods 4, streamed from Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Nugs.net.
I used active noise cancellation, transparency, and "Adaptive Audio" listening modes in various locations, including at home, in an office environment, while walking around a city, on a train, in a car, and on a plane. I tracked and measured how long the battery lasted with these modes on and off and the charging time.
AirPods fans take notice: You no longer need to go Pro to get active noise cancellation. Furthermore, Apple has answered the call if you have a distaste for ear tips or simply don’t want your ears sealed off.
AirPods 4 are now official and come in two flavors: just AirPods 4 at $129 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation at $179. After spending some time with the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series X, I dashed over to the AirPods 4 on display. I got the chance to briefly test the higher-end option – including putting the noise cancelation to the test in a noisy, loud, and crowded hands-on area.
For one, the case is very compact and tiny, appearing smaller than the AirPods Pro or even the third-generation AirPods. In fact, it’s kind of like a shorter AirPods second-generation carrying case in terms of width across. You should have no issue bringing these with you and fitting them within most pockets.
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation also trickles down some of my favorite features of the AirPods Pro case. Bluetooth Low-Energy is inside and a speaker, making the case here findable within Find My. So, if you lose it, you can ping it from another Apple device to help you find it. There is also a USB-C port for charging, and a cable comes in the box, but the rear here also supports recharging with an Apple Watch charger or a standard Qi charger.
Flip open the lid, and you’ll find the left and right AirPods 4, which Apple dubs the “best-fitting AirPods ever.” I’ll need to spend more time with them, but they’re very compact, with short stems containing the force sensor for intuitive controls. However, the overall look is similar to that of AirPods' third generation.
Apple has redesigned the fit here to better stay in the ear, be comfortable for an extended period, and for the best acoustic performance. I found them comfortable during my brief demo, and even with a few headshakes, I couldn’t get them to fall out. However, I haven’t had that issue with previous open-ear style AirPods like the first-, second-, or third-generation models.
With their lack of silicone ear tips, AirPods 4 rest in your ear and won’t fully seal it off from the world around you. With no audio playing and no listening mode on, you will still hear a good bit of the world around you. With the H2 onboard here and the higher price, these feature listening modes, though.
These seriously impressed me in my brief demo – I started with Transparency mode engaged and 1901 by Phoenix playing in the background at a low volume. I could hear the track playing and the noisy crowd of folks demoing other gadgets around me, albeit at a slightly lower volume. The overall audio mix was vibrant and crisp. I couldn't test out "Personalized Spatial Audio" in this space, but AirPods 4 does support it.
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
When I engaged the AirPods 4's Active Noise Cancellation feature and had the track playing, it pretty much lowered the volume of the crowd completely – this was with audio at about 60-70%. At a lower volume, that crowd roar can still be there a bit, but considering the open style of AirPods 4, these performed way better than I had initially anticipated. I’m curious how these might perform with blocking out noise in other situations, be it a plane or a place with a roaring HVAC system. I didn’t get the chance to try Adaptive Audio here, but I look forward to testing that and seeing how it handles blending transparency and active noise cancellation together.
That about sums up my first impressions of AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. For one, they make noise cancellation more affordable within the AirPods lineup – though $179 is still not the cheapest – and also deliver a potentially more comfortable fit for folks who don’t like ear tips. I especially like that it ushers in some of the nicer-to-have features of AirPods Pro, like Find My for the case and the H2 chip, which should deliver great sound playback. AirPods 4 will also feature gesture controls like nodding your head up or down to answer a call or left and right to ignore it.
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
You can also use “Hey Siri” hands-free for things like sending a message or asking a topical question. Apple promises five hours of playback on a full charge and 30 hours with recharges in the case. If you engage Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Adaptive Audio, that will drop to 20 hours with recharges.
Of course, if you don’t need noise cancellation and can live without wirelessly charging the AirPods case, the $129 AirPods 4 might be a better fit – pun intended – and won’t be as big of a hit on your wallet. These have the same fit from the redesign and have the H2 chip inside.
The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are the most expensive headphones Anker has ever released. Sure, they're still a lot cheaper than the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5, but it does pile on a bit of pressure for these headphones to deliver, especially considering top-rated headphones like the Sennheiser Accentum Plus come in at nearly the same price. Happily, though, the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are a great-sounding pair of wireless headphones that kept me listening for hours on end, day in, day out.
Thanks to LDAC codec compatibility, you’re getting hi-res audio, which helps the Soundcore Space One Pro to deliver rich, well-weighted all-round sound. If you appreciate some depth, these will likely pique your interest, thanks to the impressively weighty bass and sub-bass on offer. More generally, audio is to a high standard – it's not always as sharp as it could be or as clean-sounding as some top-of-the-range headphones, but it'll satisfy the vast majority of listeners.
Thanks to the Soundcore app, you can also find the perfect sound for you. There are classic EQ settings, which include a huge array of presets and a custom option too. But what’s really exciting is the HearID setting which assesses your personal tastes and hearing capabilities to suggest the perfect calibration – something that even some of the best headphones don’t offer. Not only that, but there’s a Dolby Audio mode available for those looking for a more expansive soundstage when watching movies or TV shows on the go.
More broadly, you’re getting a strong feature-set here. There’s Easy Chat for having conversations without needing to pause your tunes, multi-point connectivity and adjustable active noise cancellation settings. Speaking of ANC, you’re getting cancellation that’s a cut above some of the best cheap headphones. Some high-pitched sounds will still creep through, even when listening at higher volumes, but overall, you’re not going to get too distracted by the outside world when using the Space One Pro.
You’ll also be able to listen pretty much unbroken thanks to two key factors: battery life and comfort. Firstly, you’re getting plenty of playtime with the Space One Pro, which can go for 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours with ANC off – although beware, with hi-res audio switched on, this number will be significantly cut. In terms of comfort, it really doesn’t get much better. Wearing the Space One Pro is never grating, even after listening for multiple hours consecutively – a fantastic plus given a lot of over-ear headphones fall at this hurdle.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. One of the Space One Pro’s biggest flaws for me is their looks. Although when folded they’re ultra-compact, in use they appear chunky and a little bit disappointing quality-wise – especially the button controls. This might not be a deal breaker for many, but Soundcore has increased its asking price for these headphones. Don’t get me wrong, these are good quality cans, but with this amount of cash, there are some outstanding alternatives from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser available to you – are the Space One Pro better than these? I’m not too sure.
Still, they sound great and you’ll happily keep playing your favorite tracks for hours on end. The main issue is the strength of the competition. For example, in our Sennheiser Accentum Plus review, we gave these similarly priced headphones 4.5 stars, thanks to their impeccable sound quality – although their fit isn’t suited to every head. Some people may find the Soundcore more comfortable, and prefer them for that reason, but most people will probably want to go for the better sound quality.
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Price & release date
$199.99 / £149.99 (about AU$300)
Launched on September 5 2024 in UK/US
Launching in Australia in October 2024
With the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro headphones, the brand has ventured into slightly more premium territory. These cans will set you back $199.99 / £149.99 (about AU$300) – that puts them in the same ballpark as the Sennheiser Accentum Plus, which retail for $179.95 / £169.99 / AU$299, and the Sony ULT Wear, which go for $199.99 / £149 / AU$348.
It’s a significant price jump on the classic Soundcore Space One, which were just $99 / £99 at launch. Of course, the newer model is more compact, has more mics and higher-quality audio, but that’s still a big jump considering the Space One still has ANC, a very similar battery life and hi-res audio capabilities.
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Features
Solid active noise cancellation
Hi-res audio capability
Feature-rich companion app
Something I love about the Space One Pro is that they boast a pretty expansive feature-set. You get the classic options you’d expect from modern wireless headphones, including multi-point connectivity and EQ settings, but there’s a good amount more to uncover.
One of my favorite features was Easy Chat, which lowers the music volume playing and makes voices clearer. This was incredibly useful in an office setting, especially when I had to respond to questions or chat with colleagues briefly, making for a seamless transition from listening to talking. You can easily adjust the time it takes for music to fade back in after using Easy Chat in the Soundcore app, with 5, 10 and 15 second wait times available, although I found the default 5 was ideal. Sensitivity here was just right too; for instance, the sound of typing wouldn’t set off Easy Chat, making for a near-flawless user experience. You will have to resist singing along to the music, though…
Another neat little feature is Safe Volume. When I listen to music, I like to listen at loud volumes – maybe a bit too loud sometimes. However, the Soundcore app has a decibel reading meter that displays whether your volume level is normal, acceptable (ie, a bit on the loud side but probably okay), or too high. This is useful for keeping yourself in check, and you can set a high volume limit too, if you want to be on the cautious side, or to keep kids' hearing safe if you give the headphones to them.
As I mentioned, there are classic EQ settings here, including a bunch of neat presets for various genres and the option to make a totally custom sound. However, one of the coolest settings available is HearID Sound, which assesses your hearing capabilities at various frequencies and asks you to pick your preferred sound through a small handful of multi-choice questions to find your perfect sound. This worked fantastically well and gave me some added depth in the bass department, a little bit of additional height in the treble, with a dip in the mid-range – a calibration that suited my taste very nicely.
One more feature that enables you to customize sound is Dolby Audio. This is useful if you want a more immersive, expansive sound from your headphones, but is likely better suited towards people watching videos. I found that this did add a bit of width to the soundstage, but I rarely used it when listening to tunes. When you are blasting your favorite songs, though, you can activate the LDAC audio codec (compatible with most Android phones), which delivers richer, more detailed hi-res audio – something I kept turned on throughout most of the testing process.
(Image credit: Future)
Another part of the Space One Pro that’s decently customizable is ANC. You can toggle on Wind Noise Reduction when out and about and switch between full, normal, and transparent levels of noise cancellation. But how is the ANC itself? Pretty good actually.
In a café, I could still hear a conversation on my table with music at half volume, but at a more realistic listening level of 65-70%, I could barely hear any words at all. When listening to more mellow classical music, however, sounds like plates being placed down crept through sometimes, even at high volumes.
At around 60% with Wind Noise Reduction on, traffic was barely audible, although some higher pitched noises did seep through from time to time. Similarly, when using a hairdryer, the screech-like noise it emitted was still audible when listening to a bass-heavy track.
With the lower-frequency tones of a microwave, I heard almost nothing at 50-55% volume, although this didn’t surprise me a lot as the Space One Pro seemed to be very competent at blocking out lower-frequency sounds, as is common with the best noise cancelling headphones.
I compared this to the more budget 1More Sonoflow and Sony WH-CH720N in the same environments, and the Space One Pro were a clear upgrade over them both.
To top everything off, the Space One Pro have a very respectable battery life of 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours with ANC off. This is, of course, reduced if you’re using hi-res audio. When testing battery life with ANC on, I found the 40-hour claim to be accurate.
Sure, there are some headphones out there, such as the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, that can go for up to 60 hours with ANC on, but they’re about $80 / £80 more expensive. And this battery life is 10 hours longer with ANC on (and 20 hours with ANC off) than the considerably pricier Sony WH-1000XM5. So, all in all, it's fair to say the Space One Pro are a top choice if longevity matters a lot to you.
Features score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Sound quality
Full-sounding hi-res audio
Satisfying bass
Audio isn’t perfectly sharp
Overall, we were pretty positive about the original Anker Soundcore Space One’s audio, particularly because of its ability to offer strong bass, clear vocals and LDAC support. Thankfully, all of this holds true for the Pro model, which more generally delivers great audio quality.
Let’s start with bass: if like me you’re someone that appreciates lots of depth, these are gonna hit the spot. Sub-bass in Backseat Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar was perfectly weighted, never feeling overly dominant in the mix – a lot of cheaper headphones struggle to handle this level of depth, but not the Space One Pro. When listening to Black Eye by Allie X, the dynamism of the bass connecting up to the mid-range was impressive too, although the kick of the drum machine was slightly lethargic.
Mid-range sounds come through clearly and with solid levels of detail. When comparing these to the cheaper Sony WH-CH720N, the Space One Pro achieved a fuller sound, helping to expose a few more sonic intricacies. This is, of course, helped further if you activate the LDAC codec for hi-res audio.
Like the ‘non-Pro’ edition, these produce a pleasingly wide soundstage experience, which is ideal for atmospheric tracks like Rains again by Solji. This track sounded a little bit constrained with the CH720N, but when using the Space One Pro, the intro’s rain sound effects were natural and quieter vocal segments were more controlled. The soft vocals maintained their intended levels of delicacy too and highs often sounded sweet when using these headphones. From time to time, vocals could be a little harsh at top volumes, something I discovered when listening to the opening of SICKO MODE by Travis Scott, but this wasn’t too common.
All in all, I found the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro to be very good in the audio department. They’re not going to deliver the incredible accuracy, intricate detail and flawlessly clean audio that super-premium competitors can offer, but for some headphones below the $200 / £150 / AU$300 mark they perform well. Bass is the star of the show here, but there’s excellent customizability if you’re more of an avid podcast fan looking for an emphasis on clear vocals, for example.
Sound quality score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Design
Ultra-compact foldable design
May be a little chunky looking for some
Super comfortable fit
When I first unboxed the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, I got more of an earmuff than headphone vibe. Initially, I was struck by how chunky they were – even the headband is pretty thick and padded. Don’t get me wrong: the Space One Pro aren’t horrible looking, but I don’t think there’s gonna be a rush to hang them in the Louvre.
Even in terms of build quality, I wasn’t massively impressed. That’s mainly because the buttons and silver detail on the headphones look and feel a bit cheap. I did, however, quite like the Cream White color that these cans came in, though a Jet Black alternative is also available.
It’s not all about the looks, of course, and thankfully these headphones are incredibly comfortable. Every day I’ve tested the Space One Pro, I’ve used them for at least five hours and have not once felt a smidge of discomfort, so if coziness is the number one thing for you, these are absolutely perfect.
Another smart aspect of these headphones is their compact nature. Thanks to what Anker calls a FlexiCurve Structure, these can halve in size when fully folded, perfect if you’re a bit limited for space in your backpack or tote bag.
A case is available for them (added free for initial order, but that may not be the case if you buy in the future) that's also waterproof, unlike the headphones themselves, which don’t have a dust or waterproof rating.
Something these do lack is touch controls – which may be pleasing to some, but I would’ve personally appreciated them. Instead, you’re stuck with plain old button controls and unfortunately they’re a bit lacking. I already mentioned they’re not the prettiest, but I also found the volume controls to be quite unresponsive and I had to hold down the power button for quite a while to switch the headphones on or off. You can customize which button controls do a little bit in the Soundcore app, but options are pretty limited.
Overall, I don’t love the Space One Pro’s button controls and I’m not an enthusiast when it comes to their looks either. However, what I can’t deny is that they’re massively comfortable and super-compact, making them totally user-friendly. Fashionistas – you’re probably best served elsewhere I’m afraid, but otherwise I’d urge you not to rule these out on looks alone.
Design score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Value
Anker’s most expensive headphones ever
Stack up to similarly-priced competitors on features and sound
Still a tad too costly at launch
I’ll be real, reader, I’m conflicted here. I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro; they’re a great-sounding, ultra-comfortable pair of wireless headphones that have kept me listening for hours on end. But there’s a massive amount of competition in this price range from some of the most well-respected tech companies in the game.
For example, the aforementioned Sennheiser Accentum Plus offer confident, punchy sound, a longer battery life and a more attractive design for a similar price. And the Sony ULT Wear are also super comfortable and offer the LDAC codec – although in our Sony ULT Wear review we had a mixed response to its bass-boosting ULT button. Good options abound at this price point, making any one choice harder to justify.
And there are often bargains available on more premium options: for instance, the legendary Sony WH-1000XM4 are regularly available at a similar price to these these headphones, and they are going to offer almost everything you get here, but with even better audio and a classic design. However, it is worth noting that this only applies to when the Sonys have their price cut, and the Space One Pro will inevitably also see strong discounts, probably as soon as Black Friday, shortly after launch.
What I’m more confident in stating, though, is that these outperform the stronger budget wireless headphones, such as the Sony WH-CH720N and 1More Sonoflow, both of which we’ve spoken about highly on numerous occasions. These have considerably better ANC, audio quality and features. So, although I wouldn’t expect these to be listed at a way lower price, I think these will be extremely attractive on sale, when they’re closer to the $150 / £120 mark.
Value score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro?
Buy them if…
Comfort is a priority for you A lot of over-ear headphones tend to get uncomfortable after a while, but not these. The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are a delight to wear, even for hours on end, thanks to their soft ear cushions and well-padded headband. Say goodbye to headphone fatigue, and hello to hours of back-to-back bangers.
You want highly customizable audio If you have specific tastes when it comes to audio, these headphones are a good pick. That’s mainly because of the HearID feature, which provides a custom EQ configuration suited to your ears. There’s also Dolby Audio for a more expansive sound and LDAC compatibility for hi-res output.
Don’t buy them if…
You’re on a budget These aren’t ultra-premium headphones or anything, but they’re not the most affordable cans out there either. If you’re on a budget there are so many fantastic cheap options out there for under $100 / £100 / AU$200, check out our guide to the best cheap headphones for some recommendations.
Style is your main concern Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but I think many will agree with me here – the Space One Pro aren’t the most attractive cans out there. If you want some sleeker headphones, the likes of Sony and Bose have plenty of excellent options that avoid the chunky look that Anker has adopted here.
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Also consider
Sennheiser Accentum Plus The Sennheiser Accentum Plus are a fantastic pair of mid-range over-ear headphones. They offer beautiful sound quality, a clean design, decent ANC and an epic battery life. And once you factor in their price, which is scarcely any higher than the Space One Pro, they become a very attractive option indeed – as you can see from the fact we granted them 4.5 stars in our Sennheiser Accentum Plus review.
Sony WH-CH720N I’ve owned these headphones myself for about one year and can say they’re very good if you want a cheaper option than the Space One Pro. Sure, they don’t support LDAC or produce a super-expansive audio overall, but you still get a nicely balanced sound with solid detail. Not only that, but they have awesome battery life, 360 Reality Audio support, competent ANC and a lightweight design. Given they’ve gone on sale for less than $90 / £80 in the past, they’re an incredible option if you’re working with a tighter budget. Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review.
Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: How I tested
Tested for one week
Used in the office, in a café and while on walks
Predominantly tested using Tidal on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
I tested the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro over the course of a week. During this time, I took to a number of environments including a café, built-up roads, the office and my apartment. I typically connected the headphones to Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 with the LDAC codec active in order to access the best quality audio. I also tested the headphones with the FiiO M11S hi-res music player, my Windows laptop, and an iPhone 13 Pro. When listening to music, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a number of genres, before expanding to a wider music selection. When appropriate, I also compared the Soundcore Space One Pro directly to the Sony WH-CH720N and 1More Sonoflow.
First reviewed: September 2024 Read more about how we test
It goes without saying that $3499 / £2999 / AU$5899 is an awful lot of money to consider spending on a pair of wired over-ear headphones – and yet you’re almost spoiled for choice here, as our best wired headphones guide proves. What sets the D7000 apart, though, is that Final Audio has gone to town where the technology of planar magnetic headphones is concerned, and consequently has a pretty compelling story to tell.
It’s developed something it calls an ‘air film damping system’ to overcome the low-frequency limitations of the planar magnetic driver technology. It’s created a ‘pinna-aligned diffuser’ to overcome the variations in the shape of the human ear. It’s gone so far as to build its own manufacturing and assembly jigs in order to keep the entire construction process in-house and under its control. It's not a stretch to say that Final's need to get the science of bringing sound to your ears just right borders on obsessive.
The D7000 is far from the most cooperative headphone this sort of money can buy, so you’ll need to spend more – on a headphone amplifier with a fair bit of grunt. But if you’re able to drive the D7000 effectively, there’s a lot to enjoy about the sound.
Yes, the case is huge (Image credit: Future)
Final D7000 review: Price & release date
Released February 27, 2024
Priced $3499 / £2999 / AU$5899
The Final Audio D7000 are available to buy now, and have been since the end of February 2024. A price of $3499 / £2999 / AU$5899 lets you know the company is not messing around with this model, and it also lets you know that alternatives from the likes of Focal (see the May-launch Azurys), Grado (see our Grado Hemp review) and Meze Audio (that would be the Meze Audio Liric) are firmly in Final Audio’s sights.
(Image credit: Future)
Final D7000 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Final D7000 review: Features
‘Pinna-Aligned Diffuser’
‘Air Film Damping System’
Not the easiest headphones to drive
Wired headphones seldom bristle with features – and the Final Audio D7000 are no different in that they have what they need to get the job done and nothing else. But it’s fair to say that Final Audio has applied itself to these features rigorously.
For instance, the company has addressed the inherent problems planar magnetic drivers have in producing properly low frequencies by developing something it calls an ‘Air Film Damping System’. If you play at significant volume, the movement of the diaphragm when it’s delivering bass information can be exaggerated to the point that it contacts the magnets that are driving it – which obviously is undesirable. Final Audio suggests that a) every other planar magnetic design consequently doesn’t dig as deep into the frequency range as is ideal, and b) it has solved the issue.
A necessarily complicated system involving perforated metal shields suspended on either side of the diaphragm creates a layer of air between the diaphragm and its magnets - it acts as a braking system and allows the diaphragm to generate the desired low frequencies without the danger of contact with the magnets around it. The diaphragm itself is thin and light even by prevailing standards, and has a super-thin spiral-pattern aluminum coil etched onto it.
The other major feature here is the ‘Pinna-Aligned Diffuser’. The concept of acoustic adjustment via diffusion has been gaining traction for some time – but Final Audio feels it has identified, and subsequently solved, an important issue: the shape of the wearer’s pinna. The pinna (the shape of the outer ear) obviously varies widely from person to person, and it can significantly affect a headphone listening experience. Final Audio’s listening tests, using both real live ears and simulations, have resulted in a diffuser shape that is, according to the company, optimal for every listener regardless of the shape of their pinna.
The driver arrangement has resulted in a headphone with an impedance of 50Ω and sensitivity of 89dB/mW – this translates to ‘quite difficult to drive’. It seems likely that anyone spending the thick end of three grand on a pair of headphones is not going to connect them directly to a laptop headphone socket or something like that – but equally, these numbers suggest a sturdy headphone amp will be a necessity.
The amount of oomph that’s likely to be required to drive the D7000 makes the supplied cable seem slightly odd. It’s three meters long, for starters, which is far from the most practical length, and is terminated in an unbalanced 6.3mm jack – which is not the most helpful (or premium) option. At this sort of money it’s not unreasonable to expect a variety of cables, in a variety of lengths, with a variety of terminations – a 4.4mm balanced jack, for instance, would help the headphone amp into which it’s plugged deal with the rather tricky load the D7000 present.
Features score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Final D7000 review: Sound quality
Tremendous powers of insight and analysis
Open, organized and utterly believable sound
Could quite easily be more dynamic
In many ways, the sound the Final Audio D7000 make is approaching ideal – or, at least, it is for someone with similar sonic priorities to mine. If you admire high detail levels, nicely neutral tonality, a beautifully balanced frequency response and a big, well-organized soundstage, then we have something in common. And you’ll no doubt enjoy the D7000 as much as I do.
A big 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of Weyes Blood’s Grapevine is exactly the sort of thing the Final Audio excel at dealing with. Their carefully judged tonality gives a touch of warmth to the acoustic instruments and the staggeringly direct and informative midrange, and their response from the bottom of the frequency range to the top is impressively even. The hard work Final Audio has done in an effort to liberate dynamic driver-type levels of bass extension and substance from the planar magnetic arrangement has without doubt paid off; the D7000 dig respectably deep and hit with determination. They may not be the punchiest headphones this sort of money can buy, but they’re certainly no slouches.
The top of the frequency range is open and airy, but more than enough substance to avoid sounding in any way thin or hard. And with the impeccable vocal, they demonstrate real midrange fidelity and positivity – there’s an enormous amount of detail, both broad and fine, extracted and contextualized. The D7000 communicate through the midrange in the most eloquent and expressive manner, and singers sound direct and characterful as a result.
(Image credit: Future)
The soundstage these headphones can generate is extremely wide and respectively deep, so even a recording as relatively complex as Stevie Wonder’s He’s Misstra Know-It-All (as a DSD64 file) sounds organized and coherent – even the layout of the drum kit is absolutely explicit. And this recording demonstrates that what the D7000 lack in outright low-frequency impact, they make up for in control – rhythmic expression is always convincing.
Up to this point, the Final Audio combine analysis with entertainment in a most agreeable manner. They’re fun to listen to, musical in their approach, and have so many pertinent observations to make about the minutiae of recordings that each listen is a little voyage of discovery.
The only significant drawback is a relative lack of dynamism. While they’re very attentive to the low-key dynamics of harmonic variation, the D7000 aren’t all that inclined to really lean in when the going gets intense or big shifts in volume occur. That’s not much of an issue with the recordings I’ve mentioned so far, because they both offer very polite increases in attack – but when you ask the Final Audio to deliver something along the lines of My Bloody Valentine’s Feed Me With Your Kiss as a 24bit/96kHz FLAC file, they can sound slightly undemonstrative. The D7000 are either unwilling or unable to properly track the variations in intensity with proper determination, and they are slightly short of the sort of headroom that allow significant distance between the quietest and loudest moments in the recording.
Sound quality score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Final D7000 review: Design
437g
Washi’ fabric for headband and earpads
Aluminum/magnesium alloy housing
‘Big’ seems as good a word as any to start with. The Final Audio D7000 aren’t outrageously heavy at 437g, they stay comfortable through long listening sessions thanks to the materials used in their construction and their careful hanger arrangement… but they nevertheless feel big because, well, they are. Or, at least, their earcups and earpads are. If you’re blessed with a smaller-than-average head, there’s a good chance the D7000 will prove to be rather more headphone than you’re comfortable with.
Final Audio has designed the D7000 to be as repairable and serviceable as possible and that is to be commended. Those tiny exposed screw-heads tell their own story – almost every part of these headphones can be removed if required. So hardware upgrades are possible, as is replacement or repair. In other words, the D7000 should last you a very long time. This is just one advantage derived from Final Audio’s insistence on conducting the entire manufacturing process in-house – even to the point that it’s designed and built its own assembly jigs and measurement jigs in order to ensure the quality of build and finish is exactly how it wants it to be.
The earcup housings are made from machined aluminum/magnesium alloy, which helps keep weight down, and they feel just as good as they look (as long as you’re fine with black – it’s the only option where finish is concerned). They adjust on the headband using a fairly rudimentary ‘friction pole’ arrangement, but that does at least mean the arms don’t flare out from the side of the weather’s head all that far.
Final Audio has used a light, breathable fabric for the covering of the headband and earpads. It’s derived from ‘washi’, a traditional Japanese paper – and as well as offering good moisture control, lightness of build and excellent durability, we will all be pleased to learn it also has excellent anti-bacterial and odor eliminating properties.
Design score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Final D7000 review: Value
Well built; exceptional attention to materials used
Requires good amplification – and expensive regardless
If you’ve read this far then you know the D7000 are very well built and finished, using high-quality materials. You’ll know they use some quite innovative technologies in order to do their thing, and you’ll know their modular construction should mean they last for years. You’ll know that in pretty much every respect except dynamic response, they’re a profoundly enjoyable listen – as long as you have amplification capable of driving them efficiently. And you’ll also know they’re by no means your only choice if you want to spend big on some new headphones…
Value score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Final D7000?
Buy them if...
Don't buy them if...
(Image credit: Future)
Final D7000 review: Also consider
Focal Stellia Focal's stunning – and we mean that visually as well as aurally – over-ears have been sitting pretty among the audiophile-grade elite for a few years now. Think high-quality craftsmanship with a stunning open presentation that leads to mind-blowingly good sound. Yes, that $3,000 price tag could be a tad excessive, but if you've got Final Audio money, you've got Focal money… See our Focal Stellia review for the full story
How I tested the Final D7000
Connected to an iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier
With a variety of digital audio file types and sizes
For well over a working week
My reference amplifier (a Naim Uniti Star) has a 3.5mm headphone socket – and so all my testing was done using a (hugely capable) iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier connected via UBS-C to an Apple MacBook Pro loaded with Colibri software in order to play proper high-resolution content. I listened to less information-rich stuff too, of course, and to music of every style and genre. And I did this for well over a working week, because frankly it was no kind of hardship at all…
Well, the Dyson Zone wasn’t an April Fool’s joke and the company best known for its vacuums was indeed dead serious about entering the audio market – because, lo and behold, we now have Dyson’s second pair of headphones. This time around, they go without the Bane-like air purification mask and, instead, focus solely on what’s important to a pair of headphones: sound quality. It also introduces a more accessible aesthetic in the process.
Called the OnTrac, Dyson is now unequivocally aiming for a share of a crowded market currently occupied by some of the best headphones and best noise-cancelling headphones from more well-established brands.
The OnTrac’s spec sheet certainly implies Dyson is in with a fair shout. Music is delivered via custom 40mm neodymium drivers that are tilted 13˚ towards the ear, which allows your ear canal to suck up the waves as confidently as the maker’s iconic vacuums. ANC is onboard, which utlizes a custom algorithm to cancel up to 40dB worth of unwanted ambient noise and, in practice, it works very well indeed, with office chatter all but silenced and screaming babies on trains dulled to a whisper. It doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of the best-in-class sets (Bose, I’m looking at you), but you can also do an awful lot worse.
Comfort is subjective. I have to agree that, despite the size and 451g weight of the OnTrac, it doesn’t feel like it when worn, thanks in no small part to Dyson’s rather clever move of attaching two small battery units to the headband (rather than the ear cups) for more even weight distribution. But the weight does become a little uncomfortable over prolonged periods (something I don’t experience with my daily pair of Sonos Ace cans). I do appreciate the fact that the OnTrac can be customized to a great degree thanks to interchangeable ear cushions and ear cups, plus the headband is available in four color finishes. It makes an already unique-looking set of headphones even more so.
On the sound quality front, the Dyson OnTrac delivers an overall presentation that is cleaner than I was initially expecting. Vocals, in particular are handled with poise and there is a discernible soundstage within which instruments are placed. While detail is also good, the OnTrac lacks dynamic punch and music can sound a little flat. It’s not an offensive or ‘bad’ listen by any means, but when competitors do sound better and for less money, it becomes tricky to recommend.
How much is the Dyson OnTrac I hear you ask? At $499 / £449.99 / AU$799, the OnTrac enters right near the top of the premium headphone market, and immediately gains the Apple AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort Ultra as natural competitors. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 also gets a deserving mention here. These three pairs all represent some of the best wireless headphones currently available and all come from established brands. In the OnTrac, Dyson has to be rather optimistic, expecting potential customers to part with a big chunk of cash despite not having a lot of audio experience.
If you value having the option to customize your headphones, though, and you want something that is genuinely unique, the OnTrac should be at the top of your wishlist. And if Dyson can release a future firmware update that allows for greater customization of the EQ, it could be onto a genuine winner.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Dyson OnTrac review: Price and release date
Announced July 18, 2024
List price of $499 / £449.99 / AU$799
Additional cost for customizing ear cushions and ear cups
The Dyson OnTrac headphones were announced on July 18, 2024 and are now available to purchase outright directly from Dyson and select authorized retailers for $499 / £449.99 / AU$799. At this price, they sit at the upper end of the premium headphones market. The Apple AirPods Max are officially priced higher at $549 / £499/ AU$899 but can be picked up at a discounted price during big sale events, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra – comfortably the best noise-cancelling headphones available right now – retail for $429 / £449 / AU$649 and, again, are often discounted.
If you want to customize your OnTrac headphones, ear cushions and outer caps are available for $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.99 a pair, although, at the time of writing, these are only available directly from Dyson.
For anyone else wanting to personalize their headphones, adding one pair of each soon adds up, so you’ll need deep pockets if you want to unleash the full potential of Dyson’s latest headphone effort.
Pricing the OnTrac so high definitely doesn’t work in its favor. It’s fair to say Dyson isn’t a ‘market leader’ when it comes to audio products, so to price its second pair of headphones much higher than five-star pairs from established audio brands is a bit delusional. Even if the OnTrac were brandished with a Sony or Bose logo, it would still be a tough sell. If the headphones were brought down to around the $400 / £400 / AU$600 mark, I think it would be a bit easier to be a little more positive about them.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Dyson OnTrac review: Specs
Dyson OnTrac review: Features
Up to 55 hours battery life
Good, not ‘best-in-class’, noise cancellation
No wired listening or hi-res audio
One of the headline features of the Dyson OnTrac is its 55-hour battery life. It’s quite exceptional and eclipses much of its closest competition. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (60 hours) and Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 (60 hours ANC on / 100 hours off) are similarly-priced pairs that do better, but nothing from Sony or Bose comes even close. Dyson includes a 1.2m braided USB-C cable in the box for the moment you do eventually run out of juice.
Alongside the exceptional battery life, Dyson is also keen to emphasise the capabilities of its noise-cancellation system. Eight mics are deployed in total across both ear cups to constantly listen to the world around you – 384,000 times a second, Dyson stresses – and cancel out external sound up to 40dB. This isn’t an adaptive noise-cancellation system, meaning it’s either ‘on’ or ‘off’, although there is a Transparency mode that lets in ambient sounds. This can be activated with a strong double tap on either ear cup. If you want to turn it off entirely, you’ll need to use the MyDyson app.
In real-world testing, the noise cancellation works incredibly well. Office chatter was canceled out entirely and screaming babies on public transport were reduced to near-silence. It’s certainly one of the better iterations of noise cancellation I’ve personally come across, although I would say the Bose QC Ultras do still claim the title of truly best in class.
Alongside being able to adjust noise cancellation, the MyDyson app is where you can (sort of) tailor the sound. There are three EQ presets to choose from: Enhanced (on by default), Bass Boost and Neutral. It would have been nice to be given the opportunity to fully personalize the EQ settings in a similar vein to what Bowers & Wilkins or Bang & Olufsen offer through their respective apps.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
The MyDyson app also displays a live sound exposure graph that constantly monitors noise levels both inside and outside the ear cups, clearly showing you whenever the levels become potentially harmful. It turns out I prefer to listen at a volume level that borders on ‘not recommended’. It doesn’t send you notifications when the audio you’re listening to encroaches into harmful territory, but you can toggle a setting that will ensure the volume doesn’t go above 80dB.
The Dyson OnTrac also features wear detection, meaning they’ll automatically play and pause when you put them on or off respectively, and it works with pinpoint accuracy. The headphones will also turn themselves off after 30 minutes of inactivity.
Elsewhere in regard to the feature set, the OnTrac falls a little short in comparison to the best at this level. Firstly, the Bluetooth 5.0 standard is used which is pushing seven years old and now lags behind Bluetooth 5.3. We’re also starting to see Bluetooth 5.4 show up in equally premium models. While it still serves up a reliable connection to source devices – I did experience the very occasional issue where the app didn’t immediately recognize the headphones were connected – it means some important features are missing, including multipoint connectivity for simultaneously connecting to two devices.
As far as audio codec support goes, the list is pretty short with just the basic SBC and AAC codecs alongside the rather niche LHDC. It’s a bit disappointing that a pair of headphones that cost as much as the Dyson OnTrac doesn’t support aptX in one form or another, or true high-resolution audio. There’s also no support for spatial audio or wired listening.
Features score: 3.5/5
Dyson OnTrac review: Sound quality
Clean and detailed
Bass Boost increases the low end but delivers a pleasant soundstage
Not the most dynamically adept
Despite their rather ‘in ya face’ looks, the Dyson OnTrac is a lot more delicate in its audio presentation. To earn its pay, Dyson places emphasis on the OnTrac’s ability to cater to a broad frequency range of 6Hz to 21kHz. That’s much lower – and a bit higher – than the human ear can hear, but Dyson says it made the decision to ensure the OnTrac could comfortably handle all sounds within the ear’s range of detection and to minimize distortion at higher volumes.
With the Neutral EQ preset selected, Dua Lipa’s Training Season bops along nicely in its opening verse with a decent helping of bass, and her vocal comes through crisp and cleanly. There is a good sense of space, with instruments and various other aspects of a track being clearly placed. But when compared to other pairs such as the Sonos Ace or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the sound delivered by the OnTrac feels more constrained with less room to breathe. It’s feels more like how on-ear headphones sound rather than over-ears, which the OnTrac technically is in the way they fit (I discuss this in the design section below).
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
It certainly pays to play around with the EQ presets as I found what worked for one song didn’t necessarily work for the other. Training Season sounded fine on the Neutral preset, but Miley Cyrus’ Flowers was given an extra pop of energy when selecting Enhanced. On several occasions, Neutral flattens things to the point where it wasn’t all that engaging or fun.
And while the OnTrac could certainly keep up with the boogie rhythm of AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie (I am reviewing these in Australia, after all), their lack of dynamic clout is exposed. It’s not to say there isn’t a change between the quieter intro vocal and louder burst of up tempo guitar, it just lacks a little bit of punch compared to some competitors. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, for example, are just way more keen to rock out playing the same track. It’s as if they’re saying “alright, let’s do this!” compared to OnTrac's more reserved, “are you sure? You might damage your hearing” mentality.
It’s a similar story with Rammstein’s Los. Comparing the performance of the OnTrac against the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and there’s a noticeable difference in clarity. Till Lindeman’s vocal is far more pronounced when played through the Bose and, when the full band comes in at around 30 seconds, there’s greater depth. The OnTrac sounds more two dimensional in comparison. It’s good in the sense there’s decent drive behind the sound, but there are more competent performers that cost less money.
Bass heads will enjoy the Bass Boost EQ preset as it does certainly ramp up the low end, but it does muffle the overall sound somewhat. The pulsing bass rhythm throughout Planetary Assault System’s Desert Races benefitted far greater from the Enhanced preset instead.
Overall it’s not exactly a bad sound produced by the Dyson OnTrac. It’s clean and can unearth some detail, but their more neutral sound profile won’t be to everyone’s taste. An adjustable EQ could potentially help to some degree, and I hope this can be made available with a future firmware update, but with such a high-end price tag, it would be fair to expect a high-end sound straight out of the box.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
Dyson OnTrac review: Design
Up to 2,000 color combinations
Large ear cushions for noise isolation
Can run hot
Dyson’s first foray into headphones was shockingly different to say the least, and while the OnTrac are far more headphone-y, they still deviate from the headphone norms of black, white and the occasional green or blue if a manufacturer is feeling adventurous.
The headband, which employs a modular-like design, is available in four different colors, and each comes with a default set of ear cushions and outer ear cups. Copper features navy-blue headband panels and copper ear cups; Black/Nickel has a black headband and shiny grey ear cups; Aluminum has a black headband, silver ear cups and yellow ear cushions; finally, Ceramic Cinnabar (the color of my review unit) features a coral-like orange headband and matching ear cups.
The headband colorway you choose is what you’ll live with, but the ear cushions and outer ear cups can be swapped out to any of seven choices for each, with a claimed total of 2,000 variations possible, paving the way for complete headphone personalization unlike anything I’ve seen before.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Changing the cushions and cups isn’t difficult, as both come off with a slight twist. When you take the removable ear cups off, Dyson has added a nice little touch on the main ear cup by showing where each component can be found by way of a blueprint-style design.
The ear cups, despite being physically large, are actually incredibly slim and don't protrude much from the head. I previously thought the Sonos Ace were among the more aesthetically pleasing pairs of headphones in this sense, and so I have to give Dyson credit here.
The ear cushions are made from a microfiber material as opposed to the often used memory foam with a PU leather coating. It’s soft to touch and, indeed, soft when they’re on your head. But they’re not exactly what you would call breathable. Dyson has opted for the large cups and cushions to aid with passive noise isolation if you switch noise cancellation off, but also to increase the effectiveness when it’s turned on. But the size of the cushions and the material, combined with the fact they clamp onto your head tightly (which I do ultimately like as it instills confidence they won’t slip off) means things can get real hot real quick. I carried out most of my testing with the season coming into Australian spring and, after wearing them for a couple of hours, my ears were sweating despite the milder temperatures.
I also found I needed to wiggle the OnTrac around more than normal to get a comfortable fit so that the cutouts fully enveloped my ears. By comparison, the Sonos Ace, which I wear on a daily basis, slides right into place with no adjustments needed, making me think I was wearing headphones that felt more like on-ears than over-ears.
The ear cups themselves rotate so that they can be slid into the case and, in theory, you can wear them around your neck. But because they’re so large, it’s incredibly uncomfortable to do the latter.
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
There are two physical buttons on the OnTrac – one button for power and initiating Bluetooth pairing mode on the left ear cup and a small joystick on the right ear cup is used to adjust volume, skip tracks and play/pause. During my testing I found the joystick was responsive for the most part, although I occasionally had issues with adjusting the volume – it didn’t register me thumbing it up or down and I found you may have to give it a really good push. As mentioned earlier, a solid double tap on either ear cup will switch between noise cancellation and transparency modes and you'll get an audible feedback letting you know your command has been received.
The Dyson OnTrac comes supplied with a case (expectedly so, given the price) that has seemingly been inspired by the minimalist slip-case aesthetic employed for the AirPods Max, but offers a little bit more protection than Apple does. Think of a conventional headphone travel case, but remove the zipper sides so you’re left with just the front and back pieces. That’s what Dyson has done here, and attached them with a piece of elastic so when the OnTrac is out of its case it compresses down flat.
The headphones slip back in without any trouble, but they’re exposed at both the top and the bottom, meaning they’re susceptible to dust ingress at the very least and the headband is left exposed for keys to scratch up against it when the case is in your bag. I love the intention of the fold-flat case, but the execution doesn’t quite nail it, and when you’re spending this much on a set of cans, you’re going to want to protect them as much as you can.
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Design score: 3/5
Dyson OnTrac review: Value
Cheaper competitors offer better sound and more features
Customization can get expensive
As I’ve already mentioned, the Dyson OnTrac costs an eye-watering $499 / £449.99 / AU$799. While that seems on brand for Dyson (everything the company makes is expensive), it would be easier to recommend the headphones if they cost a little less. After all, competing pairs of premium headphones have to be considered and, ultimately, the OnTrac falls short of what is now expected in this space. Battery life is fantastic and is a big gold star for Dyson, and the sound is certainly passable, but the fact is you can find greater sonic insight from others.
Hi-res audio support, or at the very least support for wired listening would have been nice to see, too. And, while I do think the ability to customize the headphones is an interesting and unique one, the added cost makes it much less of an impulse decision and I feel Dyson should throw in a bonus set of cushions and/or ear cups with the purchase of a pair of OnTrac headphones to justify the high price tag.
Value score: 2/5
Should I buy the Dyson OnTrac?
Buy it if...
You want a unique-looking pair of headphones
The ability to personalize the OnTrac headphones is a unique proposition and there’s no denying that they’re solidly built.
You need long battery life
While it’s not quite the class leader, the OnTrac’s 55 hours of battery life trumps much of the competition.
Don't buy it if...
You want best-in-class ANC
Noise cancellation is really very good, but if you want to block out everything from the world around you, Bose is still the option to go for.
You want an in-depth app
There’s no ability to fully adjust the EQ settings, and you’re instead given just three fixed presets. Some people may also miss the option to tailor the level of noise cancellation.
You listen in spatial audio
It might not be a dealbreaker for everyone, but given many other pairs in this space support some form of spatial audio, its omittance here is more noticeable.
Dyson OnTrac review: Also consider
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
It's going to take a lot to topple Bose from the top of the noise-cancellation headphone pack, although the Dyson OnTrac does come agonisingly close. These also add spatial audio and a more engaging sound, although the 24-hour battery life falls well short of Dyson's effort.
Class-leading 100 hours of battery life make Cambridge Audio's first pair of headphones the ones to get for frequent flyers. They deliver a glorious sound, too.
A more lively and detailed sound is what you'll get from these Sennheisers, along with slightly better battery life, improved connectivity and a more impressive feature set.
I used the Dyson OnTrac for a couple of weeks, listening to them at home, in the office and when commuting to work on loud, busy trains. I connected them to an iPhone 15 Pro and a MacBook Pro, and listened to a variety of music genres to determine if and how the EQ presets would affect them. During my two-week listening period, I never had to reach for the charging cable, owing to the OnTrac's incredible battery life.
