UNBOXING / PRODUCT - 9/10
Opening the box, I was impressed with packaging and initial impressions of quality. Headphones felt solid and of good quality materials. Connecting to a new device is very straightforward (press and hold power button for +3 seconds). Controls on the sides of the headphones make it easy to adjust volume quickly, as well as noise cancellation functionality. There is a nice touch where if you press and hold on the logo on the right-side headphone it will go into 'transparency' mode, which brings outside noise into the headphones. This is helpful if you're in noise cancellation mode and a coworker stops by to chat, you can quickly and easily duck in and out of noise cancellation. The headphones fold for travel. The kit includes a USB-C charging cable, aux cord and carrying case.
SOUND QUALITY - 9/10
So far the soundstage is broad, with clear highs and deep bass. Excellent!
COMFORT - 10/10
Ear pads are extremely soft, which makes them easy to wear for long periods. Adjustable band for different head sizes. Excellent comfort.
NOISE CANCELLATION - 7/10
This is the main reason I bought the Anker Soundcore Q30 headphones. I live in a townhouse and my neighbour with a shared wall has dogs that bark during the day - I needed a way to focus while working from home. While the NC does not completely eliminate the noise, it does reduce it significantly - I would say 60-70% reduction. I considered whether or not to just purchase construction-style noise blocking over the ear headphones, which promise up to a -38dB reduction, but they are often designed for extreme environments and would not be comfortable for a long period of time. If complete elimination of noise is required, you could purchase a more expensive pair of Bose Ultimate headphones. Or, use a pair of foam earplugs with these overtop and play white noise or music through the headphones with NC turned on.
If you go to rtings.com, you can objectively compare the noise cancellation performance of these Q30's with premium Bose and Sony headphones. Surprisingly, the performance is closer than you might expect for the price gap. Yes, the Bose in particular blocks more sound, especially in the higher frequencies. But the Q30's are still some of the best performing noise cancelling headphones for the < $100 market.
Within the app, you can choose from 3 noise cancelling 'modes'. These are not available unless you download the app, and customize the frequencies that are targeted by the NC.
1) Transport: Targets low-end frequencies like engine and road noise (default mode)
2) Indoor: Eliminates voices and mid-frequency noise (this is my preferred mode)
3) Outdoor: Reduces ambient sound on-the-go
Its worth noting that because these are large, over-the-ear headphones, just putting them on will cut some of the noise. Even before you start playing any music, you can just put these on your head and instantly cut like -20 dB or more from the ambient sound. You can also activate NC without playing sound, so if you want to just cut the noise, you can do that.
BATTERY LIFE
I'm still waiting to kill this battery. It lasts for days of casual use. I'm not sure if it will actually last for the claimed 40 hours, especially when using NC, but its certainly better than my wireless buds.
VALUE / CONCLUSION
Buyers looking for good quality NC headphones on a budget will be very pleased. Sure, a set of Bose or Sony headphones will outperform in ultimate noise cancellation and sound quality, but for the price these Soundcore Q30's are a great buy.
| Special feature | Wireless, Noise-Canceling |
|---|---|
| Included components | Cable |
| Age range (description) | Adult |
| Material | Silk |
| Headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| Noise control | Active Noise Cancellation |
| Ear placement | On Ear |
| Theme | Fantasy |
| Control type | Media Control |
| Cable feature | Without Cable |
| Item weight | 272 g |
| Unit count | 1 Count |
| Manufacturer | soundcore |
| Place of Business | ANKER |
| Model | A3028 |
| Model year | 2020 |
| Part Number | A3028011 |
| Special features | Wireless, Noise-Canceling |
| Number of Items | 3028 |
| Voltage | 230 Volts |
| Batteries included | Yes |
| Batteries Required | Yes |
| Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Polymer |
| Cable Feature | Without Cable |
| Material Type | Silk |
| Form Factor | Over Ear |
| Does it contain liquid? | No |
| Includes rechargable battery | No |
| Manufacturer | soundcore |
| Item model number | A3028 |
| Product Dimensions | 19.5 x 18 x 7.8 cm; 272.16 g |
| ASIN | B08HMWZBXC |
