Bluetooth and active noise cancelling? That’s an awesome combo, especially for on-ear headphones. The Phiaton BT 330 NC Bluetooth headphones have a lot to offer.
Details
Bluetooth version: 4.0
Battery life: 14 hrs / 60 hrs (NC on/off)
Price: $199.99
Where to buy: Phiaton, Amazon
The headphones have buttons on both cups. On the right is a switch that can be pressed up and down for volume or held for track skipping or fast forward/rewind. Pressing it in plays and pauses. This switch is right under your thumb when you grip the ear cup. The power button is above that. On the front is a call button, which also activates Google Now, and on the left is a single switch for the noise cancelling.
Comfort
These headphones are surprisingly comfortable for their small size. The ear cushions are soft and very comfortable, and the headband is squishy. They’re a little tight on the head, but they would fall off if they weren’t due to the on-ear design.
Wearing these for a few hours is no problem, but further wear might cause a little soreness due to the tightness on your ears. Nonetheless, I’d say they are comfortable.
Audio quality
Audio quality is definitely the most important part of any audio product, and the BT 330 NC headphones don’t live up to their price point. Don’t get me wrong, they don’t sound bad, but they don’t produce $200 worth of sound.
The sound is reasonably clear. The bass is not very strong but pleasant sounding, though the very low notes are a little muddy. The mids sound good but the highs are very bright, though many people like that. At high volumes there is distortion, but they sound pretty good when turned down.
Turning noise cancelling on and off changes the sound, and interestingly enough, they sound better with it on. The sound is more full and natural. With NC off, it sounds tinny and lifeless. Unfortunately, this means that I couldn’t reap the battery life benefits of keeping noise cancelling off.
Build quality
The build quality is excellent. The headphones are made out of plastic, but that’s not a bad thing. They’re lightweight yet durable. The adjustment is firm and doesn’t move accidentally, and the hinges are smooth and snap into position. Each ear cup also rotates on the frame, which is great. The controls all feel very good.
Battery life
The battery life on these headphones is rated at 14 hours with NC on and 30 hours with NC off. These are impressive figures, and the headphones definitely last as long as advertised. Long periods of not using them don’t drain them, either.
A critical note is that noise cancellation does not turn off with the headphones. Even when they’re off, NC will still function. This is great for times like plane rides when you don’t want to listen to music, but it will drain your battery. Always switch NC off when you’re done!
Other features
The BT 330 NC headphones get their name due to the noise cancelling feature. Unfortunately, it works pretty poorly. It will block out quiet, constant noise, but things like conversations nearby are nearly unaffected. It works on a PC fan, but not a bathroom fan.
Another feature is an included microUSB to 3.5mm cable. If the battery dies, these headphones can be used with this cable, but sans noise cancellation. This is a great feature for those on the go since a dead battery doesn’t mean useless headphones.
Unfortunately, no matter how many features they offer, they don’t sound like $200 headphones. There is some muddiness, the highs are overly bright, and the bass is a bit lacking. Not to mention that the noise cancellation doesn’t work too great either.
The highlights here are that they’re comfortable, they have a long-lasting battery, they can function on a dead battery, and they fold for travel. For these reason, they’re a great set of headphones to take with you on an adventure.
If you can get them for a lower price (and you can, check Amazon), they are a good buy. They’re definitely good headphones! Just don’t pay full price.
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