REVIEW – Recently, I have been enjoying the opportunity to test and review several similar headphones to see what would work for my daily listening needs. I like to watch videos, listen to music, and attend webinars and Zoom meetings, etc. This time around, I get to test and review the Strauss & Wagner SW-ANCBT501 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones.
What is it?
The Strauss & Wagner SW-ANCBT501 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones are made for everyday wear. The features include Active Noise Cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0, a built-in microphone for taking calls, 40hrs Play Time, and USB-C Fast Charge. The leather earpads are replaceable.
What’s in the box
1 x Strauss & Wagner SW-ANCBT501 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
1 x User Manual
1 x Carrying Case
1 x USB-C Charging Cable
1 x USB-C to 3.5 mm detachable cable
Design and features
Specifications
Connections: Bluetooth, Wired
Connector Type: USB Type C
Headphones Jack: 3.5 mm
Headphones Form Factor: Bi-fold
Features
- Audiophile Level Audio with impressive bass and 40hrs playtime, featuring Bluetooth 5.0 and a 3.5 mm cable for wired listening
- Three noise cancellation settings – passive, active, and environmental (28db Noise Reduction, Cannot use noise cancellation while wired, Cannot cancel human voices)
- Made for everyday wear with replaceable leather earpads, firm carry case, swivel earpads, and easy to find buttons plus a built-in microphone for taking calls, with 45 hours talk time
- Type-C Fast Charge giving 5 hrs play for every 5 min charged
The outside of the earcups are shiny and a combination of metal and plastic. There is a noise reduction mic on each earcup. On the inside of the earpads, each side is marked Right or left. The headphones come with a semi-hard case that holds them well and provides adequate protection. It also holds the cables and user manual, etc.
The headphone controls are around the edges of each earcup and shown in the diagram below.
The headband is adjustable and the shaft that it slides on to adjust is metal.
Performance
The headphones come in a nice compact carrying case and fit easily and safely into the case. There is also a pocket in the case for the user guide and cables, etc.
Once fully charged, you power them on while holding down the power button, and they go into pairing mode. The headphones pair quickly and easily and the Bluetooth connection remains solid. The voice for the voice commands sounds more robotic than human. The Noise Cancellation can be turned on and off and works well.
When using these headphones for phone calls, I can hear the other party well and vice versa.
For listening to music, I tested the headphones by listening to multiple genres, including Contemporary Jazz, Easy Listening, Gospel, Soul, and Reggae. The lows, Mids, and Highs are present, and they are well represented in their respective range. The presentation is void of any discernable distortion even at the highest volume which is limited. The manufacturer describes these headphones as Audiophile quality, but I would not agree when comparing them to “true” audiophile headphones. This is not to say that they do not do a very good job for casual listening.
Operation:
The headphones are very comfortable to wear:
What I like
- The build quality
- The sound quality
- The Noice Cancellation feature
- The comfort
What I’d change
- Not sure if I like the independently powered Noise Cancellation. While I can see the benefit in some cases, I personally would prefer it to be dependent on the main power.
Final thoughts
These headphones are well built and sound decent enough for casual daily listening of both music and movies, and for use on phone calls. They can be worn for extended periods of time without any fatigue and the adjustable and padded headband provides for a good fit.
Price: $99.95
Where to buy: Amazon and Strauss & Wagner website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Strauss & Wagner
