REVIEW – Right now, I am immersed in the world of headphones/headset testing and I am particularly intrigued by the number of sub $100 headphones that are making me smile and rethink the need to spend more on the ones I would carry around with me for daily use. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised by the brands and models that I have tested and I am expecting the same experience when I put these QCY H3 ANC Bluetooth Headphones through the paces.
What is it?
The QCY H3 ANC Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones feature Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), Bluetooth 5.4, Hi-Res audio and built-in microphones, multipoint connection, 60H playback, and a custom EQ via the QCY App.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x QCY H3 Headphones
- 1 x USB-C Charging Cable
- 1 x Audio Cable
- 1 x User Manual
Hardware specs
Design and features
- Adaptive ANC & Audio Compensation: The up-to-date Bimodal Ear Canal Adaptive Technology allows H3 wireless headphones to detect ear-canal structure and the way people wear it and create exclusive noise-canceling parameters to revise audio curve that the headset can deliver the same yet premium listening to different people.
- 43dB Active Noise Cancelling: The feedforward and feedback mics can identify noises and generate anti-noise waves to offset them so you can truly shut out the noise of the world around you and enjoy your music for company. You can choose one among indoor, Commuting, Boosted, and Anti-wind-noise modes via the QCY APP when you are in a different place. Besides, the headset allows you to adjust the noise canceling level to strike a balance between noise isolation.
- 60-Hour Playtime: QCY H3 wireless headphones provide over 60 hours of playtime in ANC OFF mode. The standby time is over 350 hours at full charge, and it comes with a 3.5mm audio cable for switching to wired mode anytime, so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery.
- Connect 2 Devices: QCY H3 over-ear headphones can connect to 2 devices simultaneously, allowing you to watch movies on TV while answering calls without switching.
- Reveal Original Sound: With a frequency response range of 40kHz, QCY H3 headsets can reveal sound quality beyond CD level to create atmospheric personal cinema that surrounds you for a new way of listening. Custom oversized 40mm dynamic drivers produce Hi-Res Audio, ensuring headphones can produce exceptional sound.
- All Day Comfort: The synthetic protein leather has advanced ventilation, slow spring memory foam earcups gently mold around your ears, 90° swiveling ear cups, and a self-adjustable and flexible headband that delivers a fatigue-free listening experience. The foldable and lightweight design enhances portability, making it your ideal on-the-go companion.
The QCY H3 ANC Bluetooth Headphones and made of plastic and the headband and earpads are a soft leather-like material that is very comfortable. All of the controls are on the right side earcup. They are the Multifunction/Power/Bluetooth button, the volume up/down button, the audio port, the USB-C port, and the Automatic Noise Canceling button. The headband is adjustable.
Setup
The requirements are very basic to set up the QCY H3 ANC Bluetooth Headphones. First I connected them to my iPhone via Bluetooth and then I charged them fully. The Bluetooth connection process was straightforward.
Performance
As I continue with my comparison journey of sub $100 headphones that I have tested, the QCY H3 ANC Bluetooth Headphones also pleased me with their performance.
I followed my custom and used my old-school listening habits for the baseline test. To keep the playing field level and to allow me to compare these headphones I listened to the same tracks like “All in Love is Fair”, “Distant Lover” and “I Want You” by Michael McDonald. Next, I listened to “Europa” by Gate Barbieri, “Winelight” by Grover Washington Jr., and “Angela (theme from ‘Taxi’) – by Bob James. Then, as usual, it was on to some Gregory Isaacs, Beres Hammond, and Mariah Carey to round things off.
When using the default settings without any EQ from the App, these headphones do a great job across all frequency ranges from lows to mids to highs and have just the right presence. I can listen to them for a few hours without any fatigue. The EQ options work well, but I found that I like the default sound option the most. My least favorite option is the “Bass” option which adds bass to the audio and IMHO makes the low-frequency sound very “muddy”.The quality of my phone conversations was also quite good.
As with the previous tests, I also compared the performance with Movies, YouTube videos, and Podcasts. I have no complaints.
Controls:
App: Here are some screenshots –
The QCYo app is a nice add-on that allows for sound customization.
The battery life is good, and I have not experienced any connectivity issues. These headphones fit comfortably, and there is no fatigue when wearing them for a long time.
What I like
- The simple and functional design
- The audio quality
- The companion app
What I’d change
- These headphones should come with a hard case
Final thoughts
The QCY H3 ANC Bluetooth Headphones are extremely comfortable to wear and simply sound great. I am so pleasantly amazed at the performance of these headphones. And the value for the cost is simply great. Very well done!!
Price: $44.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by QCY.
