Will I become a noise-cancelling headphones convert?
There are some things in life that once you try them, you’ll never go back to living without: premium bedsheets, expensive candles and supremely comfortable but cute underwear fall into this category for me. But for many people, noise-cancelling headphones are a non-negotiable. Despite being a huge music and podcast lover, I’ve never bitten the bullet and invested in a pair of quality headphones. And to be perfectly honest, I’ve never seen the point in a noise-cancelling pair. Isn’t the audio coming through the headphones already noise-cancelling enough?
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So when my editor asked me to try Audio-Technica’s ATH-S300BT headphones for a few days while at work, I was a little sceptical – I’d come this far without noise-cancelling headphones, so how much could they really enhance my focus? I put them to test for my few days in-office this week to find out.
What sets these headphones apart
At first glance, the ATH-S300BT is a well-designed, stylish pair of headphones. The sleek, beige colourway I tried is ideal for everyday use. Much like other over-ear headphones they also function, in my mind at least, as a fashion accessory, adding a final touch to an outfit. These also have noticeably thick, soft memory foam earpads, ensuring a snug fit, while their ergonomic design makes them comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, something over-ear headphones users will know is of the utmost importance.
Appearances aside, they have an impressive 90 hours of battery life and digital-hybrid noise-cancelling technology, making them the perfect fusion of comfort and performance. The result of more than 60 years of Audio-Technica’s pursuit of high quality sound, they’re equipped with 40 mm drivers. If, like me, you don’t really know what that means, a larger ‘driver’ can move more air through the headphones, meaning they offer high-octane, full-spectrum sound. So what are they actually like to use?
Putting them to the test
The first thing I noticed about these headphones was just how comfortable they are. I could genuinely wear them all day long without enduring the discomfort many over-ear headphones I’ve briefly tried have caused me. In terms of the listening experience, they provide three listening modes: hear-through, where users can still hear ambient sounds, noise-cancelling and ‘off’. To choose your mode, you just press the button on the side of the headphones.
I first tried the ambient mode, so I could still hear my colleagues a little – I work in editorial which can be quite collaborative, so full noise-cancelling isn’t always the best idea. Straight off the bat, I was blown away by how superior the audio quality was. It was so crisp that I was immediately filled with regret at the years I’ve wasted using tinny-sounding earbuds.
Later in the afternoon, everyone in the office was getting into deep focus mode so it seemed like the perfect time to put the noise-cancelling capabilities to the test. I switched the setting, opened my emails and got to work. When they say noise-cancelling, they aren’t lying. I really entered my own little world, where all the annoying background noise that accompanies working in an open-plan office was immediately blocked out.
I became so in the zone that I powered through hours of emails I’d been putting off, and didn’t even notice as my workmates started to lose focus later in the afternoon and chit-chat among themselves. As any noise-cancelling advocate can attest, there’s something incredibly immersive about using headphones like this, particularly when you work in an environment that has constant movement, conversation and music in the background. After three days of using them, I’ve undoubtedly become a noise-cancelling headphone convert.
The other thing that stood out for me was the battery life of these headphones. I didn’t need to charge them once, despite using them for roughly 10 hours a day, for three days in a row. Other headphones I’ve owned have always been a pain when it comes to battery life – it feels like one day of heavy use will have them running low. Unbeatable battery life combined with the ability to massively enhance my focus at work? It’s safe to say you can add these to the list of items I’ll never again live without.
Audio-Technica’s ATH-S300BT headphones are available now from JB HiFi, Good Guys, independent HiFi, record stores and on the Audio-Technica website for RRP AUD $249.