STACK #189 Jul 2020

FEATURE LIFE TECH

Sony WH-CH 710N If you want distraction-free listening on the go, you should give these on-ear headphones a try. The battery holds 30 hours on a full charge, with a quick charge feature providing one-hour battery life after only ten minutes of charge time. On the right earcup you will find the multifunction control for voice assistance and ambient sound mode if you want to take in your surrounds. The oval earpads are comfortable, and the light all-plastic body means weight won’t be much of a factor, even though it packs a 30mm driver for great bottom end response. Complete with noise cancelling technology, the swivel design enables the headphones to be packed flat.

Audio-Technica ANC900BT

Audio-Technica’s 900BT iteration of A-T’s wireless, noise cancelling headphones are first-rate from several angles. They utilise a digital hybrid noise cancelling tech – which ensures mighty ambient sound reduction – and there are touch and swipe controls built into the earcup. The earpads have been lovingly crafted from memory foam! Powerful 40mm drivers deliver superb audio reproduction, a switchable hear-through function allows you to quickly tap out of your musical reverie and into real-life conversation with ease, and a neat fold-flat design means portability is a cinch.

Sony WH1000 XM3 If primo noise cancellation is the road you wish to tread, pump up your kicks for the WH1000 XM3s as these are a great choice when it comes to weeding out every bit of ambient sound that wants to infiltrate your listening experience and spoil it. These over-ear beauties feature Sony’s new HD QN1 processor, which is four times more effective than its predecessor, while new Adaptive Sound Control and Atmospheric Pressure Optimisation automatically adjust noise cancelling and ambient sound based on your activity. There’s also the infinitely clever and easy-to-activate Quick Attention tech: just cover the right cup with your hand, and the volume instantly drops to allow you to interact with the world.

Bose QuietComfort Bose’s already incredible QuietComfort wireless over-ear headphones have been given a top-notch upgrade: they now come with Google Assistant built right in, so you don’t have to clap eyes on your phone to kick all your digital goals. Simply press and hold the Action button, and get yapping. In addition, Bose’s acoustic noise cancelling technology is right up there with Sony’s: it incessantly measures, compares and reacts to the hubbub outside your head, then reacts with the opposite signal. A quick 15-minute charge will give you 2.5 hours of play, but you can charge these corrosion-resistant but soft-as-butter headphones up to 20 hours.

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